Ukraine threatens 'Russia will have no more warships in the Black Sea'

The President of Ukraine declared that Kiev was forced to find a way to "end the blockade" to exercise the right to import and export goods.

In an interview with La Nación newspaper, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that he would show Russia that there would be no more warships in the Black Sea if Kiev was not allowed to export grain by sea.

“We want to warn that Ukraine does not want war, but if they continue to cause trouble, we will open fire. We do not have much equipment, but if this continues, there will be no warships left when the conflict ends,” President Zelensky said.

According to Mr. Zelensky, Ukraine must find a way to end the blockade to exercise the right to export and import goods.

The Black Sea grain deal expired on July 18, with Russia opposing its extension. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the terms of the deal were not being fully implemented.

Meanwhile, since the grain deal was suspended, Russian warships, cargo ships, infrastructure, and military facilities in the Black Sea have become vulnerable to attacks by high-speed, stealthy unmanned vehicles, believed to be Ukrainian. Most recently, on August 1, the Russian Defense Ministry said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched an attack using unmanned boats on two patrol vessels of the Black Sea Fleet.