Zelensky makes Russian ammonia export conditional on release of Ukrainian prisoners

Sep. 16 () –

The President of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelensky, has reported his willingness to allow the export of Russian ammonia through a pipeline in Odessa, in exchange for Russia releasing Ukrainian prisoners.

“I am against the supply of ammonia from the Russian Federation through our territory. I would only do this in exchange for our prisoners. That is what I proposed to the United Nations,” said the Ukrainian head of state.

The UN proposed to resume the transit of ammonia, produced by the Russian fertilizer plant Uralchem, through a pipeline to Odessa, where it would be bought by the American commodity trader Trammo, reports the UNIAN agency.

In this regard, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dimitro Kuleba, has already warned that his government would not accept any type of agreement that would run counter to kyiv’s security interests.

On the other hand, Zelenski has reported that, during the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Kharkov region, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have captured “hundreds of Russian soldiers”, although he has acknowledged that, despite this, Moscow has more than prisoners of war than kyiv.