Ukraine blames West for lack of "courage" to force Russia lift maritime blockade

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said Western countries were unlikely to resolve the issue of Russia’s naval blockade by force.

He made the remarks during the Ukrainian breakfast in Davos, according to European Pravda.

Kuleba answered whether Western countries could organise a military convoy to escort ships in the Black Sea.

“If NATO did not close the sky over Ukraine at the most tragic moments of the war, then why are they now opening the Black Sea so that agricultural goods can be exported from Ukraine without hindrance? I will wholeheartedly welcome such a decision, but I do not think that Western and other countries will have enough strength and courage to find a forceful solution to this issue,” Kuleba said.

Kuleba noted that even if it is possible to reach agreements with Russia on opening access to Ukrainian ports, the problem is that Russia cannot be trusted.

“Even if they sign some guarantees of unhindered passage, this does not mean that it will be granted. At any moment they can violate the agreement, as soon as it is reached,” the minister noted.

On May 23, Lithuanian foreign minister, during a meeting with his British counterpart Elizabeth Truss, proposed the creation of a naval coalition to lift the Russian blockade on Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea.

The United Kingdom has said it had no plans to send Royal Navy warships to the Black Sea to help Ukraine export food.