The White House pointed out that “Russia’s recent attack on the Ukrainian port of Odessa calls into question an agreement to export grain through the Black Sea.”

A spokesman for the White House National Security Council confirmed that “the United States will continue to explore with the international community options to increase grain exports from Ukraine via land routes.”

US Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power previously noted that “The United States is working with Ukraine on an alternative plan to move grain out of the country after Russia attacked the port of Odessa by road. and rail.” “”.

Last Friday, Russian and Ukrainian authorities signed an agreement allowing Ukrainian grain exports across the Black Sea, after months of difficult negotiations brokered by Turkey and the UN. However, just a day later, Russia launched a missile attack on the southern Ukrainian port of Odessa, where the main grain reserves are stored.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said: “The bombing of the port of Odessa shows that Russia is looking for any way to prevent the export of Ukrainian grain.” On the other hand, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov pointed out that the Russian attack on the port of Odessa was directed against military infrastructure and could not affect the shipment of grain.