Russia and Ukraine apparently reach grain agreement

In the conflict over the blockade of grain exports from Ukraine, UN Secretary General António Guterres, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and representatives from Russia and Ukraine plan to sign an agreement in Istanbul on Friday. This was announced by the Turkish presidential office on Thursday.

Earlier, a spokesman for the UN in New York said Guterres planned to travel to Istanbul on Thursday. However, an agreement on a deal with Moscow and Ukraine to export millions of tons of Ukrainian grain has not yet been fully negotiated, the spokesman said.

Already last week, the parties had agreed in principle. For example, joint inspections are to take place. A solution had also been found for the safety of the ships with which the grain is to be transported. In addition, a coordination center with representatives from all sides is to be set up on the Bosporus in Istanbul. The strait running through Istanbul, over which Turkey has sovereignty, is the only sea route from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean.

The international community has been demanding that Russia allow the export of Ukrainian grain for weeks. Ukraine complains that the Russian navy is blocking its ports on the Black Sea. Russia denies preventing wheat exports.

In the conflict over the blockade of grain exports from Ukraine, UN Secretary General António Guterres, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and representatives from Russia and Ukraine plan to sign an agreement in Istanbul on Friday. This was announced by the Turkish presidential office on Thursday.

Earlier, a spokesman for the UN in New York said Guterres planned to travel to Istanbul on Thursday. However, an agreement on a deal with Moscow and Ukraine to export millions of tons of Ukrainian grain has not yet been fully negotiated, the spokesman said.

Already last week, the parties had agreed in principle. For example, joint inspections are to take place. A solution had also been found for the safety of the ships with which the grain is to be transported. In addition, a coordination center with representatives from all sides is to be set up on the Bosporus in Istanbul. The strait running through Istanbul, over which Turkey has sovereignty, is the only sea route from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean.

The international community has been demanding that Russia allow the export of Ukrainian grain for weeks. Ukraine complains that the Russian navy is blocking its ports on the Black Sea. Russia denies preventing wheat exports.

Image by Gerd Altmann