After Russia halted the grain agreement, security expert Christian Mölling advocated continuing grain exports from Ukraine via the Black Sea, if possible without Russia’s consent.
Security expert Christian Mölling has spoken out in favor of continuing Ukraine’s grain exports across the Black Sea, if possible without Russia’s consent. Mölling leaned it in starpodcast “Ukraine – the situation” on Tuesday that the West is now responding to Moscow’s demands for the extension of the expired grain agreement. “We still have other options, namely that one can possibly try to export the grain further across the sea,” said the research director of the German Society for Foreign Relations. “It gets a bit more dangerous then.”
It must be clarified who is eligible for the protection of such deliveries. This could be Turkey, for example. It might also be conceivable to route the deliveries through the coastal regions of the NATO states of Romania and Bulgaria. Even if he doesn’t have a ready-made solution, “not all possibilities have been exhausted”. Mölling also pointed out that the Ukrainian armed forces themselves could try – for example with missiles – to keep the Russian navy away from their central ports. “The Black Sea doesn’t belong to Russia,” he said.
Failure of the grain agreement leads to “global famine”
Mölling warned of the consequences of an export stop. “A global famine is being triggered here, leading to massive refugee movements,” he said. “Both are pressure points for the West.” But if the West now gives in to Russian demands, which include easing certain sanctions, it would unintentionally strengthen Russia. It’s about “concessions that ultimately mean moving away from the goal of supporting Ukraine.”
He acknowledged that a tough stance on Russia’s demands would face criticism in parts of the world. “We have to see very clearly that we have largely lost the battle for the narrative – outside of our beloved, small continent,” said Mölling. This could be due to skilful diplomacy on the part of Russia. The elites in Africa, for example, also have other reasons for supporting Russia. The country offers support to African states ranging from the extraction of raw materials to the repression of the population in the country.
Source: Stern
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