The Russian Foreign Ministry has warned that the recently agreed grain deal could fail. Grain exports from Russia and Ukraine must start at the same time, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko demanded. Therefore, barriers to the export of Russian grain must be quickly removed. Meanwhile, the ports destined for grain exports in Ukraine have resumed their work.
The ports of Odessa, Chornomorsk and Pivdenny (Yuzhne) are operational again, although there is still work to be done to ensure the safety of the convoys, the Ukrainian navy said on Wednesday.
A center for the coordination of Ukrainian grain exports opened in Istanbul on Wednesday. The center is part of an agreement reached on Friday by the United Nations and Turkey in Istanbul to lift the blockade of Ukrainian ports.
“Always hoping for the best”
“We always hope for the best and count on our partners to implement the two components of the grain agreement, which concerns the export of grain from Ukraine and the lifting of restrictions on Russian grain exports,” said Russia’s minister of grain. Foreign Affairs Rudenko. Russia has explicitly ended the blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports in the past, subject to the easing of Western sanctions against itself.
While the sanctions are not directed against the export of food and fertilizers from Russia, they have become so effective that they also hamper their exports. Moscow complains that Russian ships carrying grain can no longer dock or have insurance in European ports. There are also problems with financing such transports due to the limitations in the financial sector.
First grain delivery later this week
According to a representative of the Turkish government, the first ship carrying Ukrainian grain is expected to leave this week. According to Reuters, a safe corridor through the Black Sea, which is not being mined, is planned for the first sea export of grain since the beginning of the Russian invasion.
For example, in the agreement, Russia had committed to allow ships to pass along a maritime corridor and not to attack them or the ports involved. The Bosphorus, which runs through Istanbul, is the only sea route from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. Turkey has sovereignty over the Bosphorus.
Strict controls planned
Under the agreement, ships must be checked when entering and leaving the Black Sea to ensure they are not carrying weapons or the like. Representatives from Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations are said to be working in the control center. Russia sends a delegation led by Rear Admiral Eduard Lujk. According to Russian information, the armed forces of Turkey and Russia must ensure the safety of the ships on the high seas.
Before the Russian war of aggression, Ukraine was one of the most important grain exporters in the world. However, due to the war, millions of tons of grain cannot be exported from Ukraine. The food is desperately needed in the global market – especially in Asia and Africa. The United Nations recently warned of the worst famine in decades.
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.
