According to Turkey, Ukraine and Russia want to sign an agreement on Friday on the export of grain and other agricultural goods. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary-General António Guterres are expected to attend the signing ceremony in Istanbul, the Turkish presidential office announced on Thursday. The agreement thus affects both Ukrainian and Russian grain exports.
According to diplomats, the export of goods blocked in Ukraine through secure corridors in the Black Sea should be facilitated by local ceasefires. Turkey must therefore inspect the ships to prevent the transport of weapons. A coordination center with UN specialists could be established in Istanbul, it said.
Putin set conditions
The agreement should also facilitate the export of Russian grain and fertilizers. Grain exports from Russia are not subject to direct sanctions, but are made more difficult by sanctions against transport companies, insurance companies and banks. At a summit in Tehran, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for relief from Russian grain exports in exchange for Ukrainian grain exports.
According to information from diplomatic circles, Washington is prepared to give guarantees so that transport companies can supply Russia with large cargo ships. Russia had previously complained that it could not use sufficiently large ships because of the sanctions.
Nearly 25 million tons of grain blocked
UN Secretary-General Guterres is expected in Istanbul on Thursday evening. He had been on vacation in the region and agreed to be present at the signing of such an agreement. According to diplomats, the agreement should have been signed on Wednesday, but was then postponed.
In Ukraine, between 20 and 25 million tons of grain are currently blocked. Before the Russian invasion, Ukraine was the fourth largest exporter of wheat and maize in the world. The Russian war of aggression and its aftermath have pushed up grain and oil prices.
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.
