‘Russia’s economic blockade of Ukraine has failed’: Kyiv hails success of the new ‘Silk Road’
Trade without the Kremlin continues. The Ukrainian government is upbeat about its new ‘Silk Road’ transport route. It takes goods to China whilst bypassing Russia. A first test shipment took 15 days to reach its destination rather than the planned 11. But officials say all issues will quickly be resolved.
Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Prime Minister of Ukraine: “We’ve succeeded in launching the test shipment and in showing Russia that the economic and transit blockade of Ukraine will fail. And it has failed. Our trade partners have clearly demonstrated their willingness to build with Ukraine a new transit route.”
Ukraine’s new ‘Silk Road’ begins at the port of Illichivsk. Goods travel via the Black Sea to Georgia and Azerbaijan before crossing the Caspian Sea. They then arrive in Kazakhstan and go cross-country before reaching China.
Ukrainian officials are in the process of promoting the route among European Union member states. Other countries could yet join. Negotiations with Poland and Austria are underway. Latvia, meanwhile, has already signed a memorandum of cooperation.