Dmytro Kuleba on Ukraine Bridge, grain, NATO and aid

Jul 17, 2023

CBS Mornings interviews Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba on July 17, 2023. Asked whether Ukraine is behind the Crimean Bridge attack, he says he learned about it from the news because of the time difference and has no official information, then argues that damage limits supplies to Russian forces in occupied Crimea and southern Ukraine. He calls the Vilnius NATO summit's results good because Ukraine's path was shortened and the NATO-Ukraine Council introduced, but says membership timing remains unclear despite strong assurances, including from U.S. leaders. Accepting the risk of immediate wartime accession, he stresses that Ukraine sought an invitation with membership after the war; partners can supply weapons while Ukraine fights. After a host reports Russia's same-morning grain-deal suspension, he alleges Russia gradually undermined renewals, cites a 20-percent grain-price fall after the initiative's introduction the previous year and predicts higher prices and harm to vulnerable people in Asia and Africa. He says inland routes cannot fully replace the ports and accuses Russia of using hunger for blackmail and commercial gain. Asked about the war's progress, he says Ukraine is winning and advancing daily in the south and east but urges patience, citing more than 19,000 children deported or abducted and 494 killed as war-related problems. Those assessments and figures remain attributed. Asked about uncertain support under a possible Republican president, he thanks Americans, Congress and the administration, respects the election as an internal affair and expects Republicans to secure continued aid through bipartisan support. The host expresses skepticism at the close. The interview establishes neither Ukrainian responsibility for the bridge attack, a NATO accession date, restored grain exports nor a future U.S. funding decision.

Russia announces it will not continue the Black Sea grain agreement, citing unmet conditions on its food and fertiliser exports and denying a link to the Kerch Bridge attack. The agreement expires at midnight July 17. TSN reports UN, EU, US, Ukrainian and British objections and food-security concerns, with Guterres pledging continued efforts and Borrell supporting EU Solidarity Lanes. Ukraine proposes continuing the maritime route with Turkey and the UN, but no alternative agreement is established in this report. The bulletin describes trade effects and a reported wheat-price rise. In his complete same-day New York statement (show 514), António Guterres says Russia's decision also withdraws navigation security guarantees in the northwestern Black Sea and its commitment to facilitate food, sunflower-oil and fertilizer exports from Ukrainian-controlled Black Sea ports. He describes the initiative's humanitarian role and warns of food-price and hunger consequences. His account and forecasts remain attributed, and do not establish that every Ukrainian export route stopped. Borrell's full Brussels doorstep (show 518) condemns the withdrawal, pledges continued EU Solidarity Lanes and rejects the sanctions explanation as an excuse. Kuleba's same-day CBS exchange (show 520) says inland routes cannot fully compensate for the ports, alleges hunger blackmail and commercial motives, and forecasts higher prices and harm in vulnerable parts of Asia and Africa. His cited 20-percent price fall and forecasts remain his account, not an independently verified result or reopening commitment. In her July 17 statement, Maria Zakharova says Russia has sent documents categorically opposing further extension. She says the arrangement failed and became commercial, portrays rich Western countries and companies as its beneficiaries and cites just three percent for the poorest countries. She conditions Russian readiness to consider restoring it on concrete results and actual exemption of Russian food and fertilizers from sanctions, rejecting promises and guarantees. These are Russia's attributed rationale and conditional position, not evidence that export obstacles were resolved or the deal restored.