US Secretary of State Antony Blinken believes that Russia’s demands for inspections of every ship leaving Ukrainian ports are “meaningless.”
Source: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
“By what right or by what logic does Russia insist on inspecting Ukrainian sovereign ships leaving Ukrainian ports going to other countries? That makes no sense. When Russia says that it might be prepared to let ships out, that potentially creates the risk of Russian ships going in and attacking Odesa directly. So the Ukrainians have to have confidence that in doing anything that would allow their ships to get out of the port that the Russians won’t take advantage of that and allow Russian ships to go in and attack Odesa.”
He also expressed support for the work of the UN, which is trying to find a solution to unblock ports and export Ukrainian food.
“The United Nations, the secretary-general, have been working very persistently to see if some kind of agreement can be reached that would allow a channel out of Odesa for Ukrainian ships and so food and grain. We very much support that effort.”
See also: G7 ministers call on Russia to unblock Ukrainian ports
