The US is working with Romania and Moldova to increase Ukrainian grain exports across the Danube.

According to a high-ranking official of the US State Department, “We are keen to support alternative routes: especially the Danube route. It remains in NATO territorial waters. So, it is very attractive to us because it keeps it in a safer corridor.”

According to the official, work is underway to double the transportation volume going through this route. The official announced a meeting with representatives from Romania and Moldova in the coming weeks, where ways to maximize the Danube route will be discussed.

At the same time, Washington is working with Turkey and the UN to support its efforts to bring Russia back into the grain deal.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian ports in the Danube cluster shipped 1.75 million tons of agricultural products in the first 15 days of August, and more than two million tons in July. According to the Odesa OVA, in the first half of the year enterprises of Odesa carried out trade operations with partners from 166 countries for more than $1B.