According to its own statements, the Turkish government is working closely with Ukraine and Russia to resume Ukrainian grain exports. The plan provides for a corridor in the Black Sea through which the necessary grain will be transported from the country by ship. The ports occupied by Russian troops have now been demined and are operational again, the defense minister there reported.
Russian forces are currently blocking seaports in Ukraine, which is one of the world’s largest grain exporters. Before the war broke out, the country supplied up to six million tons of grain to other countries every month. Last month, only about 959,000 tons of corn and 202,650 tons of sunflower oil could be shipped abroad. These were brought by train across the western border or via the small Danube ports. With the war soaring food prices and triggering a global food crisis, several countries are now trying to resume grain exports from Ukraine by ship.
Guidance on “neutral waters”
Ukraine’s UN-backed plan provides for the creation of a corridor in the Black Sea for goods to leave the country. This could be used, for example, by the ports of Mariupol and Berdyansk. These had been cleared of mines, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said. Mines could also be removed in other ports, such as Odessa, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said. According to Russian government circles, the Turkish army should clear the mines and escort the ships to “neutral waters”. Turkey has a maritime border with the two warring factions in the Black Sea. Later, Russian warships would take the grain carriers to the Bosphorus.
The Turkish government has offered to monitor the situation if Ukraine and Russia reach an agreement. According to Russian information, agricultural exports from Ukraine are already increasing again. Western sanctions are responsible for supply bottlenecks, not port blockages.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
