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Ukraine's Zelensky: Any restrictions against Ukrainian exports contribute to destruction by Russia
Any restrictions against Ukrainian grain exports contribute to the destruction caused by Russian terrorists, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday at the opening of the Summit of the Three Seas Initiative (3SI).
He addressed by teleconference the event hosted by President Klaus Iohannis at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.
"Ukraine is strongly against any further restrictions on the export of its grain," Zelensky said, pointing out that "it's not about making money, but about survival in the face of Russian terror."
"Please do not turn Ukraine into a target either economically or politically," the Ukrainian president said, adding that he does not rule out arbitration in international courts.
He also said that Ukraine fulfills its promises and never interferes with free competition.
"But how can we calmly accept the violation of the promises given to us, the violation of the association agreement, the violation of the free market conditions? The European institutions should not multiply disappointments in Europe," said Zelensky.
He spoke about the attacks in his country, including from the border with Romania. "At this time, in the city of Chilia, that is Odesa region, a city on the banks of the Danube just across the river from Romania, a fire is being fought, a fire that started at night, after the Russian Shahed [drones] attack exactly on our infrastructure, which ensures the life of the Ukrainian part of the Black Sea. (...) This is a fire in the body of our three seas and these consequences of the attacks on Chilia, Reni, Izmail, Odessa, on those cities that open their gates to the world for Ukraine are very vivid," said Zelensky.
He added that February 24, 2022 "changed everything - Europe, all of us."
"We managed to prove that we are capable of historic acts of solidarity, and now Ukraine is grateful to your countries, grateful to you personally for support," Zelensky pointed out.
The Ukrainian president highlighted that the 3SI format is about unity, not division.
All the 12 participating states are attending the summit - Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia - nine of which represented at the level of head of state, one at the level of prime minister, one at the level of deputy prime minister and one at the level of head of Parliament. At the same time, there are a series of special guests, including Greece (which will become the 13th 3SI participating state at the summit), Moldova and Ukraine (which will become 3SI associated states) represented by their respective chiefs of state (Ukraine, virtually).