By KYIV. Nov 6 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine exported 100 million tonnes of goods through solidarity lanes, more than half of which were agricultural products, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at a press conference in Kyiv on Saturday after a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“One good example of our work on keeping the economy running are the solidarity lanes. They have so far allowed Ukraine to export over 100 million tonnes of goods. More than half of these 100 million tonnes of goods are agri-food products. So, Ukraine is feeding the world in these times of scarcity,” the website of the European Commission quoted her speech.
The President of the European Commission said that the solidarity lanes bring much needed revenues back to Ukraine. In the last 16 months – this is the time frame since when we have had the solidarity lanes –, this has already brought revenues of EUR 42 billion back to Ukraine.
She commended Ukraine on its efforts to re-establish navigation on the Black Sea.
“More grain can leave Ukraine, from these two routes. But nevertheless, we need the solidarity lanes. Around 65% of Ukrainian agri-food products leave the country via these solidarity lanes. This is also why we are heavily investing in reinforcing these lanes – this is rail, road and border crossings,” von der Leyen said.
The President of the European Commission recalled that in 2022 the European Commission pledged to invest EUR 1 billion in the Ukrainian economy. “It is good that this amount has already been exceeded. Every effort and every euro is well invested because it anchors the Ukrainian economy in our Single Market,” she added.
