KYIV, UKRAINE — Ukraine and Croatia have agreed to the possibility of using Croatian ports on the Danube and Adriatic Sea for export of Ukrainian grain, Reuters reported.

Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said they will now work with Croatia to find the most efficient routes to the ports. Kuleba met with his counterpart Grlic Radman in Kyiv on July 31.

Russia on July 17 left the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which had allowed for the safe passage of 33 million tonnes of grains and other foodstuffs from Ukrainian ports.

The grain initiative was brokered in July 2022 by Turkey and the United Nations, after Russia’s invasion in February 2022 had stopped exports, causing price inflation and food insecurity.

Since leaving the grain initiative, Russia has focused its attacks on Ukrainian ports and grain terminals as well as assets on the Danube River, which was providing alternate routes for grain.

Kuleba said every effort to unblocking exports is a “real, effective contribution to the world’s food security.”