American senators have praised Romania’s role in facilitating grain exports from Ukraine, its ambassador to Washington said.
Grain
„U.S senators had appreciative remarks for Romania’s involvement in facilitating the grain transport, but also for Romania’s substantial efforts in terms of humanitarian, through the support measures for the refugees who arrived in our country,” Ambassador Andrei Muraru wrote.
Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Ben Cardin and Chris Coons, supported the introduction of a Black Sea Security Act of 2022 in the U.S. Senate and stressed the strategic importance of the region.
Senators also reaffirmed their support for Ukraine, he said in a post.
Global food insecurity
Since the end of April, 2.7 million tons of Ukrainian cereals have transited Romania by road, railway, sea or the Danube. Efforts to accelerate the transport amid global food insecurity are continuing, he said.
One of its efforts was the reopening of a Soviet-era rail link connecting its Danube River port of Galati to Ukraine earlier than expected to help boost vital grain exports from its neighbor.
Ukraine
Ukraine, known the breadbasket of Europe, typically exports most of its grain from Black Sea ports, until they were blocked by Russia’s invasion.
Sales are going by road, river and rail to European countries and shipments remain well below normal pace, Bloomberg reported.
Grain from Ukraine via Moldova can reach Galati directly and be transferred onto barges and then on to the Black Sea port of Constanta.
War
Mr Muraru took part in a hearing on global food security in the context of Russia’s war in Ukraine at the U.S congress.
He told Senators that further investment must be made in continental transit routes,
„We have emphasized that we will continue to invest in continental transit routes – firstly as a means of increasing the amount of grain flowing from Ukraine to the areas in need and secondly, as an emergency plan” he said.
Strategic port
Romania says Constanta, the largest Black Sea port has become a strategic port as it is one of the most important maritime routes for cereals from Ukraine.
