“Russian attack on Odesa port doesn’t mean that the grain deal is over” – interview with MP Oleksiy Honcharenko.

Kyiv Post journalist Aleksandra Klitina had a short interview with Oleksiy Honcharenko, a member of the Ukrainian parliament and a participant of the Ukrainian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

At the moment, Honcharenko is staying in the US for an official visit and holding meetings with Washington officials: congressmen, senators, the US state department, and Pentagon representatives. The main topics of discussion are the increase of weapons supply to Ukraine and recognition of Russian actions in the occupied territories as genocide.

Honcharenko confirms the high level of US support to Ukraine. There is no political decision to provide Ukraine with fighter jets yet. However, this question is on the table. The discussions are going on. Sooner or later, the Ukrainian air forces will run out of Soviet fighter jets. The only way for Ukraine is to switch to NATO standards.

In the interview, Honcharenko commented on the reaction of US officials to congresswoman Victoria Spartz’s accusations. “It is her personal position, not the Republican Party or the US Congress – they support Ukraine. Victoria Spartz probably has a good intention, she was born in Ukraine, but her accusations could be damaging to Ukraine. There is no evidence of the smuggling of weapons that Ukraine received.”

According to Honcharenko, there is a still possibility of reaching an agreement on grain export from Ukraine after Russian forces attacked Odesa port.

“The recent attack doesn’t mean that the grain deal is over. Odesa port still can receive ships, and Ukraine wants to export because humanitarian reasons do not let people starve in the world.” he stated.