By KYIV. Nov 29 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The UK has joined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Grain from Ukraine initiative and is providing GBP 5 million to purchase Ukrainian grain for countries experiencing shortages of it, the Economy Ministry said following a meeting of First Deputy Prime Minister, Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko with Minister of State for Food, Farming and Fisheries of the UK Mark Spencer in London.
"We are grateful for such a contribution. This is an extremely important humanitarian mission that will save many lives," the First Deputy Prime Minister wrote on her Facebook. The day before, Zelensky said that his initiative had already gathered more than 30 countries and raised $180 million.
According to her, Ukraine is also interested in extending duty-free trade with the UK, introduced for one year by agreement No. 1 on amendments to the intergovernmental Political, Free Trade and Strategic Partnership Agreement.
Svyrydenko said that this decision largely concerned agricultural products and extremely supported Ukrainian farmers in difficult war times.
The Ministry of Economy said that the issue of trade in animal products, namely the issue of the avian influenza zoning regime, was also discussed.
