Kallas warns of pressure on food supplies
According to the EU foreign policy chief, attacks on shipping in the Black Sea are making grain exports more difficult.
Listen to this article
There is no audio version yet. Request one and an AI voice will read the article aloud.
Read by an AI voice.
.jpg){kind=link}
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warns that attacks on ships in the Black Sea are putting further pressure on global food supplies. She made the remarks in the European Parliament on Tuesday.
Kallas said that, in her view, ships had been targeted in attacks six times in ten days. According to her, these were suspected Russian drone attacks on civilian shipping near Romania and Bulgaria.
The EU foreign policy chief accused Moscow of seeking to hit revenues from Ukrainian grain exports. Ukraine exports wheat, maize and barley, among other products, by sea.
Kallas said Ukraine was estimated to be losing €60 million a day in export revenues. That figure is an estimate she mentioned in her speech; the source provides no independent verification of the calculation.
At the same time, Kallas said global grain stocks were larger than in 2022. At that time, she said, around 20 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain remained stranded because of a Russian blockade.
The EU has established so-called solidarity lanes by land since 2022. Kallas warned that border crossings via Moldova, Romania and Poland could also become vulnerable. The circumstances of the reported attacks have not been independently confirmed.
Also show where in Europe and in the world
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Kaja Kallas warned on 20 October about the consequences of attacks on shipping in the Black Sea.
- Alongside sea routes, the EU also uses land corridors for Ukrainian exports.
- Responsibility for the reported attacks has not been independently established in the source used.
Left
Arguments The EU must protect food supplies and continue supporting Ukraine, even if that requires higher public spending and greater risks for European shipping.
Values International solidarity, food security and the protection of civilians.
Consequences More support and security measures could keep exports moving, but could also increase Europe's involvement in the conflict.
Centre
Arguments The priority should be safe shipping, diplomatic pressure and practical alternative routes. Allegations should be carefully investigated before further escalation takes place.
Values International law, proportionality and institutional credibility.
Consequences A combination of monitoring, sanctions and logistical cooperation could protect exports without immediately escalating militarily.
Right
Arguments The EU must protect its own strategic interests and borders more firmly and must not allow Russia to use food and shipping as leverage.
Values National security, deterrence and order.
Consequences A stronger security policy could deter attacks, but could also lead to retaliation and higher economic costs.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article clearly distinguishes between Kallas's confirmed statements and unconfirmed allegations about attacks. The figures are not presented as independently established facts.
- confirmed Kaja Kallas spoke in the European Parliament on Tuesday about attacks on shipping. — Euronews describes her speech on 20 October. source
- confirmed Kallas said that ships had been attacked six times in ten days. — The source presents this as her statement. source
- confirmed Ukraine exports wheat, maize and barley by sea. — Mentioned in the background to the article. source
Editor's note
Kallas's remarks and the figures mentioned are presented as statements by her. Responsibility for the attacks and the precise damage to exports have not been independently established in the source used.More on this in Dutch media
- NRC — „kaja kallas”
- NU.nl — „kaja kallas”
- De Telegraaf — „kaja kallas”