photo: VOA / Public domain/Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted Ukraine's recent successes against the Russian fleet in the Black Sea, which have enabled Ukraine to restart exporting its products.
This statement ties into a broader narrative of Ukraine's struggle to keep its economy afloat during these challenging times. The war, which began as a full-scale invasion by Russia in February 2022, posed a severe threat not only to human lives and territorial integrity but also to Ukraine's export capacity, particularly in agricultural products.
In response to the crisis, Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia) played a significant role in reorganizing the delivery of agricultural products to the borders of neighboring countries like Poland, Slovakia, Romania, and Hungary. This shift was significant, as seaports in occupied territories were blocked, threatening a food crisis in Europe and globally. Before the war, sea ports accounted for 45% of Ukrainian exports, but with their blockade, railway transport for exports increased from 11% to 41%. The transition to rail transport involved challenges, such as adapting the different railway gauges between Ukraine and European countries and handling increased volumes of grain.
The evolving situation required innovative solutions, including the adaptation of dry ports at the EU-Ukraine border for large-scale grain transhipment and exploring new export routes through countries like Slovakia, Hungary, and Moldova. Each country contributed uniquely, adjusting their infrastructure and policies to support Ukraine's exports.
With the Russian war still ongoing, Zelenskyy stressed the importance of Western solidarity to counter Russia's advances in Ukraine, suggesting that any decrease in pressure on Russia might extend the conflict's duration. “We must gain air superiority for Ukraine, just as we have gained superiority at the Black Sea. We can do it,” stated Zelenskyy.