During a surprise visit to Odessa, a major city in southern Ukraine, European Council President Charles Michel was forced to seek refuge due to missile strikes, a European official said today.
According to the source, during a meeting between Michel and Ukrainian Prime Minister Dennis Smigal, “the participants had to interrupt their meeting to find shelter as rockets hit the Odessa region again.”
For his part, Charles Michel wrote on Twitter that he went to Odessa to celebrate Europe Day.
“You are not alone. The EU is on your side,” the European Council president said, denouncing “Russian aggression” against Ukraine, which began on February 24.
The President of Ukraine, who met with Michel via teleconference, thanked him for his “courage” and his visit to Odessa, according to a statement from the presidency.
“I would like to thank you for your political support, for your presence. For the fact that you see Ukraine in the near future equal to other members of the European family,” Zelensky said.
According to the European official, Michel also noted during his visit to Odessa “the impact of the Russian war on the global supply chains”, especially with regard to cereals, many of which are “stranded in port” because of the Russian blockade of the Black Sea. ”
The blockade “not only harms the Ukrainian economy, but also prevents people from accessing vital foodstuffs and endangers global food security,” the source added.
The Ukrainian president noted that Kyiv supplies grain to 400 million people worldwide and that blocking exports of these agricultural products is already leading to rising world food prices.
Following the talks with Michel, the Ukrainian head of state called for immediate action to open Ukrainian ports that have been blocked by Russia in order to allow wheat exports and prevent a global food crisis.
Also today, Zelensky spoke via teleconference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and discussed Ukraine’s steps to become a candidate country for membership in the European Union.
Source: AMPE
Source: Capital
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