Their blockage for five months posed the risk of a food crisis in several countries: Ukrainian cereals will be able to leave the silos and the ports of the Black Sea. Moscow and kyiv have indeed signed agreements with Turkey and the UN, Friday July 22, for allow the resumption of exports. The European Union is now calling for their “implementation”. Franceinfo takes stock of the situation, on the 149th day of war.
Ukraine and Russia sign agreement to revive grain exports
A common line, but each on his side. Ukraine and Russia have signed two separate agreements with Turkey and the United Nations on the export of agricultural products via the Black Sea. kyiv had refused to sign the text directly with Moscow, which therefore committed to an identical agreement with Ankara and the United Nations.
Under this agreement, “safe corridors” allow the circulation of merchant ships in the Black Sea, “both parties have pledged not to attack”, according to a United Nations official who requested anonymity. Faced with the risk of mines, mainly laid by the Ukrainians to protect their coasts, “Ukrainian pilots” pave the way for cargo ships in territorial waters.
The challenge is to evacuate the 20 to 25 million tonnes of cereals currently waiting in the silos of Ukrainian ports, and which are lacking on world markets. In a tweet, the head of diplomacy of the European Union, Josep Borrell, now calls for a “quick implementation“.
The agreements signed by Ukraine, Russia, Turkey & @A are a critical step in overcoming the global food insecurity caused by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
EU remains committed to help #Ukraine bring as much of its grain into global markets as possible.
Full Statement: https://t.co/fAC3vuh7nY
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) July 22, 2022
Turkey “ready” to help mine clearance in the Black Sea
As soon as the signature affixed to the bottom of the agreements, Turkey said to itself “ready” to assist with mine clearance in the Black Sea to facilitate the export of Ukrainian cereals. “If necessary, it is planned [par l’accord] that demining can be carried out by a third country. Turkey is ready to offer help.”said on the private channel NTV the spokesman of the Turkish presidency Ibrahim Kalin.
For his part, the Russian Minister of Defense himself pledged not to take advantage of the situation militarily. To circulate ships, it will indeed be necessary to demine the approaches to ports such as Odessa, exposing them to Russian attacks. “We will not take advantage of the fact that these ports [ukrainiens] are cleared and opened. We made that commitment.” assured Sergei Shoigu.
Pro-Russian separatist territories block Google
Information warfare goes hand in hand with warfare. Authorities in Donetsk and Luhansk, two pro-Russian separatist territories in eastern Ukraine, say they have blocked Google. According to a press release, the American search engine “promotes terrorism and violence against all Russians, especially the people of Donbass”.
Denis Pushilin, the leader of the separatist republic of Donetsk, said on Telegram that “The inhumane propaganda of Ukraine and the West had long since crossed all borders. There is a real persecution of Russians, the imposition of lies and disinformation.”
Washington announces $270 million in new military aid to Ukraine
The United States announced a new round of military aid to Ukraine to the tune of 270 million dollars, including in particular four new Himars precision artillery systems. Washington will thus have supplied kyiv with a total of 20 units of these multiple rocket launchers mounted on light armor after this new delivery, which will also include up to 500 Phoenix Ghost kamikaze drones, said John Kirby, spokesman for the House. Blanche on strategic issues.
London will support Ukraine regardless of its successor
Before leaving his post soon, Boris Johnson telephoned one last time to Volodymyr Zelensky. The resigning British Prime Minister assured the Ukrainian President that the United Kingdom’s support for Ukraine “would not falter, no matter what his successor”according to Downing Street.
The two candidates vying to succeed him, Foreign Minister Liz Truss and ex-Finance Minister Rishi Sunak, assured that they would pursue the policy of Boris Johnson.
Russian media Sputnik goes bankrupt in France
Sputnik News has initiated liquidation proceedings in France. The news agency, like all Russian state media, was banned from the European Union after the start of the war in Ukraine. Launched in 2014, its economic model relied entirely on a single Russian client affiliated with the Kremlin, the organization Rossia Segodnia, which ordered subjects and reports from it, explained to AFP the liquidator of the company Christophe Basse, appointed by the court. .