A ship carrying grain from occupied territories in Ukraine has arrived in the Lebanese port city of Tripoli. But the grain could have been stolen, Kiev suspects. The loaded barley is said to have been exported via the port of Fedosiya in Crimea. However, the implementation of the grain agreement with Russia should not start until Friday or Saturday.
Ukrainian Ambassador Igor Ostash has already asked Lebanese President Michael Aoun for clarification on the matter. The ship with barley from Syria is said to have entered the port of Tripoli on Wednesday. Kiev suspects grain theft because it was not about the implementation of the grain agreement with Russia.
The first ship could leave on Friday or Saturday
War opponents Ukraine and Russia signed an agreement a week ago with the United Nations and Turkey to allow grain exports from Ukraine through three Black Sea ports. After the outbreak of war at the end of February, port activities were suspended for security reasons. For example, the Ukrainian army had mines on the coast and Moscow was accused of blocking the grain. On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the imminent start of grain exports across the Black Sea. “I think it starts today or tomorrow,” he said. It is intended that the first grain ship since February would then drop.
Trust in Russia?
UN emergency aid coordinator Martin Griffiths had already announced the imminent start on Thursday. Several loaded cargo ships are already waiting for departure in the ports on the Black Sea. German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir has now called on the EU to work on alternative export routes. The grain agreement with Russia cannot be relied upon. “There are other options: via the Danube, by rail, by road,” he tells the television channels RTL and ntv.
According to Ukrainian data, more than 20 million grains are still waiting to be exported. The UN fears increasing hunger crises, especially in Africa, because of the lack of supplies.
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.
