Ukraine and Russia signed an agreement on Friday in Istanbul -supervised by Turkey and the United Nations- to export Ukrainian grain through a shipping corridorwhich is expected to ease the global food crisis caused by the Russian naval blockade of Ukrainian Black Sea ports.
the deal will allow cargo ships to export from three Ukrainian ports -Odessa, Pivdennyi and Chornomorsk- about 22 million tons of wheat, corn and other grains stored in silos.
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Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov signed the Istanbul agreement although they never coincided at the table at the same time.
The ceremony It was presided over by the Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterresand the president of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
This is the first draft agreement between the two countries in conflict since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, and with it it is expected to alleviate a crisis forged by the naval blockade and the sanctions against Russia for the warwhich have also triggered the price of fertilizers and energy.
“Will bring relief to developing countries on the verge of bankruptcy and the most vulnerable people on the brink of famine. Y will help stabilize world food prices, that were already at record levels even before the war,” Guterres said of the importance of the pact.
with the agreement a Joint Coordination Center has been created that will verify the application of what was signed, that foresees inspections by the UN and Turkey of ships entering and leaving the Black Sea, in response to Russian fears that the vessels could carry weapons for Ukraine.
Yet it will take “a few weeks” to get the deal up and runningor, as explained by a high-level UN source about its content.
“Our goal is exports for five million tons per week“explained the same source.
If that level of exports is met Ukrainian silos would be emptied in about a month once the agreement begins to apply.
“We have to go fast, of course, we have to empty the silos, as there will soon be a new harvest in Ukraineadded that source.
Russia and Ukraine are world leaders in cereal exports and, for example, both countries sell a third of the world supply of wheat.
Ukraine is also a major exporter of corn, barley, and sunflower and rapeseed oil, while Russia and Belaruswhich has backed Moscow in the war and is also subject to sanctions, account for more than 40% of world potash exportsan important fertilizer.
Guterres assured that another aspect of the agreement is “to facilitate unhindered access to food and fertilizers originating in the Russian Federation to world markets”.
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Though Russian food and fertilizers are not subject to sanctionsbanks and intermediaries prefer not to deal with Russian companies to avoid problems, which Supply has plummeted and prices have risen.
The increase in fertilizer prices – 185% in the case of potash to more than 1,100 dollars – it has had very serious effects on the agricultural sector in many developing countries.
