(Kyiv) Ukraine resumed its grain exports on Monday for the first time since the start of the Russian invasion six months ago, with the departure of a first boat from the port of Odessa under the terms of a international agreement which should make it possible to alleviate the world food crisis.
Posted at 6:09
” Vessel Razoni left the port of Odessa bound for the port of Tripoli in Lebanon. He is expected on August 2 in Istanbul. It will continue on its way to its destination following the inspections that will be carried out in Istanbul,” the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced.
According to Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov, the boat is loaded with 26,000 tons of corn.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “warmly” welcomed the departure of this first ship, expressing hope that the resumption of Ukrainian grain exports “will bring much-needed stability and aid to global food security”.
UKRAINIAN NAVAL FORCES PHOTO VIA REUTERS
The head of Ukrainian diplomacy Dmytro Kouleba spoke of a “day of relief for the world, especially for our friends in the Middle East, Asia and Africa”. According to him, 16 other boats loaded with grain are “waiting their turn” to leave Odessa, in southern Ukraine.
The departure of this boat from the port of Odessa is “very positive, a good opportunity to test the effectiveness” of the Istanbul agreements, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the press.
“Let’s hope that the agreements will be implemented by all parties and that the mechanisms will work effectively,” he added.
The agreement signed on July 22 in Istanbul between Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations allows the resumption of Ukrainian exports under international supervision.
A similar agreement signed simultaneously guarantees Moscow the export of its agricultural products and fertilizers, despite Western sanctions.
These two agreements should help alleviate a global food crisis that has seen prices soar in some of the world’s poorest countries due to the blocking of Ukrainian ports by the conflict with Russia.
Under the terms of the agreement, the vessels and their cargo are to be inspected in Istanbul, under the authority of the Joint Coordination Center (JCC), inaugurated last Wednesday.