Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts in the Black Sea region on facilitating (a) security and (b) commerce during the war in Ukraine.

We are working with Ukraine and international partners to ensure Ukraine can continue to export its goods in the absence of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Recent discussions with partners, including Black Sea littoral states, have focused on the security arrangements needed to prevent and deter Russian attacks and ensure Freedom of Navigation for commercial shipping in the Black Sea. The Prime Minister has also announced a comprehensive Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance capability operation to support these arrangements.