Germany to help Ukraine export grain

That's according to Handelsblatt, Ukrinform reports.

"The federal government is planning a 'grain bridge'," the German media outlet said, citing sources in the government.

This year's agricultural harvest is to be brought out from Ukraine with the help of rail transport – DB Cargo, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn AG. In this way, it will be possible to compensate at least in part for the impossibility of using maritime transport.

"As a rail transport officer, I am committed to ensuring that 20 million tonnes of grain can be shipped in order to avert a global hunger catastrophe," said Michael Teurer, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Transport.

He confirmed that negotiations were under way with Ukraine's state rail operator Ukrzaliznytsia and other European railways, including those in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania.

Coordination is already under way within the federal government to secure funding. It should be noted that rail transport is much more expensive than maritime transport, which Ukraine usually uses for grain exports. However, Ukraine currently cannot use its ports for export.

According to the Ukrainian Agriculture Ministry, the war in Ukraine has already affected about 25% of global grain trade and led to rising world prices.

Photo: Deutsche Bahn AG