Ukraine has 'Plan B' on grain; Russia shoots down Su-25, UAV

Chiến sự ngày 464: Ukraine có ‘kế hoạch B’, Nga bắn hạ Su-25 và nhiều UAV - Ảnh 1. — A cargo ship leaves the Black Sea port of Pivdennyi carrying Ukrainian wheat to Ethiopia.

Reuters on June 2 quoted Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky as saying that the country would be ready to continue exporting grain across the Black Sea under "plan B" without Russia's cooperation, if Moscow withdraws from the current agreement.

The United Nations and Turkey helped broker the Black Sea Grain Initiative between Moscow and Kyiv in July 2022 to tackle the global food crisis, as Ukraine is one of the world's leading grain exporters.

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Minister Solsky said Russia has prevented Ukraine from using the port of Pivdennyi and has allowed only one ship to deliver Ukrainian grain to other countries each day. Russia has said it would allow multiple ships to leave the port daily if all sides agreed to free up Russian ammonia pipelines through Ukrainian territory to Pivdennyi for export.

Mr. Solsky suggested that the Ukrainian government could provide insurance guarantees to companies that continue shipping without Russia’s participation in the new agreement. The official said the Ukrainian government had created a special insurance fund of about $547 million for companies whose ships would visit Ukrainian Black Sea ports under the new arrangement.

“If we are completely blocked, which is almost certain to happen in reality, ships can follow this corridor with insurance from our government,” Mr. Solsky said, advising shipowners to have strong confidence that the Ukrainian military and air defense forces “can do their job.”

At the same time, he hopes the current deal will remain in place, despite the difficulties, as any new option would require a new deal or format.

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A UN spokesman said on June 1 that Russia had informed officials overseeing the deal that it would limit its registration at the port of Pivdennyi until the parties agreed on Russian ammonia shipments.

Russia shoots down Su-25, Ukrainian UAV

Regarding the war, TASS news agency on June 2 quoted Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov as saying that Russian forces shot down a Ukrainian Su-25 ground attack aircraft in the Kherson region and 29 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the previous 24 hours.

In addition, he said the Russian Air Force had launched precision strikes against Ukrainian air defense forces protecting key military sites.

"At night, the Russian side carried out several strikes with long-range precision air-launched weapons on the enemy's air defense systems covering important Ukrainian military infrastructure facilities. All designated targets were hit," Konashenkov said.

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Ukraine has not commented specifically on the above information. The Kyiv Independent reported on June 2 that Russia attacked 10 regions in Ukraine, killing 4 people and injuring 40.

The Russian Air Force launched 15 cruise missiles and 21 UAVs at Kyiv province, all of which were shot down by Ukrainian air defense forces, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. Russia has not commented on the information.

The fighter alliance has 9 countries.

According to the Yevropeiska Pravda news site on June 2, the alliance established to provide fighter jets to Ukraine now has 8 European countries and other countries joining.

The alliance currently includes Britain, the Netherlands, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, Portugal and France, said Ihor Zhovkva, deputy chief of staff to the Ukrainian president. The ninth member, the United States, has also joined.

He said the alliance is taking practical steps to accelerate the training of Ukrainian pilots and technicians on F-16s and other fourth-generation fighters.

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The report did not mention specific aircraft models being considered for supply to Ukraine.

On May 25, the Swedish government announced that it would train Ukrainian pilots on the JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet, but added that it would not supply the aircraft to Kyiv.

Earlier on June 1 in Moldova, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with leaders of the UK, Netherlands, Poland, Denmark, Sweden and Belgium to discuss pilot training and receiving Western fighter jets.

The leaders agreed to officially name the alliance "Ukrainian Sky Shield" at the next Ramstein summit of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, after consultations with one of its members, the United States.

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