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Dutch May Join Naval Escorts for Ukraine Wheat If Russia Commits

  • Estonia, Lithuania have called for coalition for naval escorts
  • Dutch defense minister says Russia, Turkey involvement needed
A cargo ship is loaded with grain at a grain terminal in Mariupol, Ukraine, on Jan. 13. 

A cargo ship is loaded with grain at a grain terminal in Mariupol, Ukraine, on Jan. 13. 

Photographer: Christopher Occhicone/Bloomberg

The Netherlands would consider joining an alliance to send warships to escort grain supplies stuck in Ukrainian ports but would need assurances from Russia and, ideally, involvement from Turkey, according to the Dutch defense minister. 

Estonia and Lithuania have been calling to establish a coalition of the willing to send naval escorts for grain freighters, as European officials decry Russia’s effective blockade of Ukrainian ports that’s left Kyiv struggling to get grain shipments out.