The target is to reach the pre-war level of five million metric tonnes of grain exported each month. The deal will make available more wheat, sunflower oil and fertilizer in international markets, and for humanitarian needs.
TAGS FOR HOPE FULL
Guterres added: “Since the war started, I have been highlighting that there is no solution to the global food crisis without ensuring full global access to Ukraine’s food products and Russian food and fertilizer.” Speaking during the signing ceremony, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the agreement reached as “a beacon of hope, a beacon of possibility, a beacon of relief in a world that needs it more than ever.” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who played an active role in the negotiations for the deal was present at the signing. The other signatories were the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Turkey’s Defense Minister Hulusi Akar. One by the Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and the other by the Ukrainian Minister of Infrastructure Alexander Kubrakov. Vessels carrying grain will be steered by Ukrainian captains out of the ports of Odesa, Chornomork and Yuzhne and sail to Istanbul and deliver their cargo to other ships to be transported to countries importing grain.Ī joint command center manned by officials from the UN, Ukraine, Russia and Turkey will monitor the movement of these ships and will make sure that they do not transport weapons or soldiers.Īs the two warring nations refuse to sign any deal with each other, two identical agreements were signed at separate tables. Ukraine could not export its grain and other agricultural produce due to the blockade, while international shippers and insurers were reluctant to conclude contracts with Russians in case they run afoul of US and EU sanctions.įollowing diplomatic efforts by the United Nations and Turkey lasting more than two months, an agreement was reached that port facilities and vessels would be safeguarded from hostilities. In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there was a de facto blockade by Moscow of ports in the Black Sea, while Ukraine mined the waters to deter a Russian amphibious attack.Īs a result, the ports used to export Ukrainian grain were blocked for commercial shipping and, as Ukraine is a major grain exporter, prices of this essential commodity surged, becoming unaffordable for millions of poor people facing acute hunger.Īs both Ukraine and Russia are among the largest exporters of grain in the world, the blockade has caused grain prices to soar. However, less than 24 hours later Russian missiles hit targets in the port of Odesa, raising questions about whether the deal will be implemented.
0 kommentar(er)
