Jokowi's Food Corridor Bid during Visit to Ukraine, Russia

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - In his peacekeeping mission to Ukraine and Russia, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo offered the possibility to establish a food corridor, which effectively calls for leaders in Kyiv and Moscow to guarantee that food can be exported out of the war-stricken countries and supply the global food chain. 

The Indonesian Ambassador to Germany Arif Havas Oegroseno on Thursday, June 30, confirmed that this was one of the agendas discussed in Jokowi’s meeting with the state leaders. 

This is seen as a similar move to what has been done by Turkey as reported by Russian news agency TASS. It implied that a series of discussions between Turkish and Russian Officials had taken place on June 8, in attempting to establish a ‘grain corridor.’

Currently, Ukraine is a major exporter of wheat products while Russia is a major exporter of food and fertilizers. Exports of wheat, which is Ukraine's main commodity, were previously affected by the Russian blockade of the Black Sea port in Ukraine's Odesa region. 

The move even sparked comments from the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, who called for Russia to lift the blockade.

"Wheat cannot be used as a weapon of war," the Pope said, Reuters reported. But recently, Russia has signaled that this export activity can be reopened.

FAJAR PEBRIANTO

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