Egypt Rejects Illegally Exported Ukrainian Grain
Ukraine and Egypt strengthen cooperation while regional dynamics evolve
Egypt will no longer accept illegally exported grain (незаконно вивезене зерно) originating from occupied Ukrainian territories, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on April 3. The announcement followed discussions with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el‑Sisi and marks a significant step in addressing contested agricultural trade flows linked to the war.
Zelenskyy welcomed the decision, expressing gratitude for Egypt’s stance and highlighting its willingness to contribute to a just peace (справедливий мир). He noted that both countries agreed to maintain ongoing diplomatic communication through their foreign ministers, reinforcing coordination on key international issues.
During the talks, the leaders also examined regional developments in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, particularly their influence on the global oil market (ринок нафти). Zelenskyy said he briefed his Egyptian counterpart on Ukraine’s recent engagements and agreements with countries in the region, underlining the broader geopolitical context of the discussions.
Ukraine also emphasized its readiness to expand military-technical cooperation (військово-технічне співробітництво) with Egypt. Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine has strong potential in this area and that both sides explored additional sectors for deepening bilateral relations, agreeing to pursue further collaboration in the future.
At the same time, Russia is advancing its own initiatives in the region. On April 2, Vladimir Putin told Egypt’s foreign minister that the Kremlin plans to establish a grain and energy hub (зерновий та енергетичний хаб) in Egypt. While Egyptian officials indicated openness to such proposals, they did not provide specific details about potential implementation.
According to reports, Russia is seeking alternative routes for exporting energy and raw materials due to ongoing Western sanctions. In this context, Egypt could become a logistics center (логістичний центр) for shipments to Africa and the Middle East. Similar ideas have been considered elsewhere, including a potential grain hub in Oman and a gas hub in Turkey, though these projects have so far made limited progress.
Meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el‑Sisi
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