“The black sea is of great strategic importance for NATO,” said NATO Secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg at the press conference on the report for 2021, APA reports.
According to him, NATO allies- Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkiye are Black sea countries, also NATO partners Georgia and Ukraine are located on the Black Sea coast.
“The role of Black sea and Ukraine ports located here in the food export to the world countries is known to everyone. Therefore Russia's blockade of Ukrainian ports is not only a big problem for Ukraine but also a serious problem for the world. This problem triggers the increase in food prices in the world. It is important that Russia immediately lift the blockade and allow Ukraine to export grain,” Stoltenberg stressed.