Statement by the HR/VP on the escalation of Russian strikes in the EU, particularly on Black Sea shipping, threatening human life, regional stability and food security
Speaking on Russian strikes in the EU, the HR/VP said Romanian F-16 fighter jets shot down two drones over Romanian territorial waters on Saturday and that rescuers were searching for seven sailors missing after a drone attack on two tankers near Romania’s Black Sea coast. The statement said six attacks in 10 days by suspected Russian drones marked an escalation in the Black Sea, and that since mid-July Russia had intensified attacks on Ukraine’s export routes, with Ukraine losing an estimated 60 million euro a day in export revenues. It added that around 90% of Ukrainian agricultural exports move through the Black Sea corridor and that the European Council called for immediate restoration of safe passage for civilian shipping.
Why it matters: The statement ties attacks on Black Sea shipping to food security by linking Ukraine’s export routes to global grain prices and supplies.