POLITICAL AND LEGAL FACTORS OF THE FUNCTIONING OF THE HUMANITARIAN CORRIDOR IN THE BLACK SEA

Abstract

The article analyzes the prerequisites and factors of the functioning of the humanitarian maritime corridor in the Black Sea. New Ukrainian realities caused by Russia's large-scale armed aggression against Ukraine. The blockade of seaports and ships caused the export of Ukrainian agricultural products and other goods from all ports of Ukraine to stop. The impossibility of exporting grain from Ukraine first of all had a painful impact on world food security. Therefore, the world community and the Ukrainian authorities faced the problem of unblocking sea routes and returning Ukrainian grain crops to foreign markets. Solving this problem required the development of economic, legal, political, and logistical components, taking into account the interests of the participating countries and other countries of the world. It became possible to settle the issue only within the framework of the «Initiative on the Safe Transportation of Grain and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian Ports», which, under the norms of International Maritime Law, established mechanisms for safe maritime commercial transportation, and allowed the creation of a humanitarian («grain») corridor in the Black Sea. The achievement of the «grain corridor» was the stabilization of the food market and the maintenance of food security. At the same time, Russia also received tactical, strategic, economic, and political benefits. Despite this, the Russian Federation continues to obstruct freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and the Danube for political and military purposes to dominate the Black Sea region. In this regard, solving the problem of the effective functioning of the humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea is complex and requires a multilateral approach, which involves a reliable legal and regulatory framework, transparency, and international cooperation to develop political and economic mechanisms to counter Russian aggression and ensure free sea navigation for commercial ships.

Keywords

• humanitarian corridor
• «grain» agreement
• sea transportation
• blockade
• food security