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Ukraine is tracking multiple vessels carrying grain it says Russia stole from the occupied territories and shipped to at least four countries, as the diplomatic row over Ukraine and Israel over another stolen grain purchase rumbles on.
The Ukrainian foreign ministry confirmed on Tuesday that Moscow’s sales of stolen grain are not limited to Israel, and that the total number of countries that have bought its shipments is likely bigger.
“Such shipments arrived in Turkey, Egypt, Algeria and some other countries. These are only the cases I can recall from memory that happened earlier,” foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhyi said.
“We see everything and will not leave it without attention,” Tykhyi said. “This will not remain without a proper response.”
The foreign ministry emphasised that Ukraine maintained its approach not only toward Israeli companies, but also toward anyone who “participates in illegal trade and effectively helps Russia finance its war efforts against Ukraine.”
Ukraine to demand explanations from Egypt
Panama-flagged bulk carrier Asomatos docked in Egypt on Tuesday, reportedly carrying over 25,000 tonnes of wheat loaded in Feodosia in Russia-annexed Crimea.
Another vessel, the Russia-flagged Victoria, had departed from Mariupol earlier this month and then unloaded over 7,000 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat from temporarily occupied territory in Egypt. The vessel is under Ukrainian sanctions.
In early April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he addressed the issue with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
“President (El-Sisi) informed me that Egypt will no longer accept grain exported by Russia from our temporarily occupied territories and is, at the same time, interested in increasing imports of grain from Ukraine,” Zelenskyy posted on X on 3 April.
Kyiv said it would “approach” Egypt regarding a new case of a vessel arriving with grain that was exported by Russia from the occupied territories of Ukraine.
Egypt is the world’s largest wheat importer, and the biggest buyer of Russian wheat. According to estimates from rail carrier Rusagrotrans, it has bought about 7.6 million tonnes of Russian grain so far this season, around the same level as last year.
On 2 April, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow and Cairo were exploring plans to create a joint “grain and energy hub” on Egyptian territory.
Russia has been seeking new ways of distributing its energy and commodities exports in response to waves of Western sanctions over its war in Ukraine.