Kallas, Guterres discuss 'grain corridor' model for shipping through Strait of Hormuz

16.03.2026 13:29

Ukrinform

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres have discussed the creation of a Middle East shipping route modeled on Ukraine's "grain corridor."

Kallas made the statement ahead of a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"It is important that the tension in the Middle East does not take away attention from Ukraine," Kallas said.

She also noted that the easing of U.S. sanctions on Russian oil would set a dangerous precedent.

"Right now, we need them [Russia] to have less money for waging the war," Kallas said.

According to her, the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz plays into the Kremlin's hands.

In this regard, the European Union needs to "do definitely more" to prevent Russia from gaining windfall profits and to help unblock the strait, Kallas said.

She added that over the weekend she had spoken with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres about how to ensure uninterrupted supplies of energy resources and fertilizers to the Middle East, drawing on the model of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

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