Mr. Zelensky: Ukraine has taken the initiative from Russia on the Black Sea

Russia's flagship Moskva pictured in 2013. Kiev said it used a missile to sink the ship, Russia said it sank due to a fire (Photo: Reuters).

"The Black Sea is where the world saw for the first time a fleet of unmanned boats begin operating, a Ukrainian fleet," Mr. Zelensky wrote on the messaging app Telegram, asserting, "we have taken the initiative from Russia in the Black Sea."

Mr Zelensky added that since the early days of Russia's "special military operation" in February 2022, Moscow has blockaded Ukraine's Black Sea ports, causing damage to Kiev's grain and export port infrastructure.

But the Ukrainian president said Kiev had already changed the balance of power in the Black Sea. He thanked Türkiye, Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova, which border the Black Sea, for their support.

"We can prove that cooperation between the countries of the Black Sea region, with the support of partners, can bring stability to the global food market," Zelensky said at a meeting with representatives of the Black Sea countries.

"We were able to protect the western part of the Black Sea, which now allows our maritime export corridors to operate. The Danube region has also acquired a new importance, with key significance for global security," Zelensky said.

After Moscow withdrew from the UN-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative that would have allowed grain shipments out of Ukraine, Kiev set up an alternative corridor in August.

Ukraine could export 4 million tons of goods through this corridor, Mr. Zelensky previously revealed.

Russia has stepped up raids on Ukrainian ports and grain infrastructure, while Kiev has launched drone attacks on Russian ships.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/ong-zelensky-ukraine-da-gianh-the-chu-dong-tu-nga-tren-bien-den-20231116210129836.htm