The first shipment of Armenian flowers has arrived in Ukraine. A truck carrying 9,500 flowers was exported to the country, and a second truck loaded with approximately the same quantity is expected to arrive in Ukraine soon.

Marat Hakobyan, a political analyst based in Kyiv, said the importer of the Armenian flowers is an Armenian businessman living in Ukraine, Armenpress reports.

According to Hakobyan, the first shipment of Armenian flowers delivered to Ukraine has already been almost completely sold, while the second truck is expected to reach the country in the coming days.

He also noted that videos have already begun circulating on social media in which flower shop owners showcase the Armenian flowers they received and announce the start of sales.

Against the backdrop of Russia’s ban on imports of Armenian flowers, Armenia is continuing to diversify its export markets. The country has already exported another shipment of 5,500 flowers to Latvia.

On June 7, Dutch Foreign Minister Thom Berendsen stated that the world’s largest international floriculture marketplace had opened its doors to Armenian flower producers by connecting them with buyers across Europe and beyond.

The Dutch foreign minister wrote that his country supports the European Union assistance package for Armenia announced on June 4 by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

“We examined how we could practically support affected sectors such as Armenian flower production. As a result, Royal FloraHolland — the world’s largest flower marketplace — is now opening its market to Armenian flower producers and connecting them with buyers in Europe and beyond,” he wrote.

Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) decided to temporarily suspend flower imports from Armenia starting May 22. The restrictions were said to remain in place until inspections of Armenian greenhouse farms are completed and the results are analyzed.

The Russian side justified the decision as necessary to ensure its phytosanitary security. Rosselkhoznadzor claimed that flower shipments from Armenia had allegedly contained pests and other quarantine-regulated organisms considered a risk to the territory of the Eurasian Economic Union.