Russia amid food crisis: Turkey says a deal has been made with Russia to allow Ukraine to resume exports of grain through the Black Sea
o Turkey claims that a deal has been concluded with Russia to permit Ukraine to resume exports of grain across the Black Sea
o It is due to be signed on Friday in Istanbul by Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
Turkey brokers grain deal between Ukraine and Russia with help of UN
Turkey claims a deal has been reached with Russia to permit Ukraine to export grain through the Black Sea. It is to be signed on Friday by Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in Istanbul. The global shortage of Ukrainian grain since Russia’s invasion has left millions at risk of hunger.
The invasion has sent food prices skyrocketing, hence the deal to unblock Ukraine’s ports is vital. About 20 million tonnes of grain is currently stuck in silos in Odessa. The US State Department has hailed the UN-brokered deal, but stated that they will be focusing on holding Russia accountable for implementing the deal.
None of us should have been in this position at the outset. This was a premeditated decision made by the Russian Federation to weaponize grain supply, stated Ned Price, the department’s spokesman.Â
Diplomats assert that the plan includes: Ukrainian vessels leading grain ships back and forth from mined port waters, Russia consenting to accord while shipments traverse, Turkey, supplemented by the United Nations, inspecting ships and allaying weapons smuggling by Russia. The deal is also supposed to permit Russian exports of grain and fertilizer through the Black Sea.
The United Nations and Turkey have been trying for two months to broker a deal regarding grain, in the midst of global anxiety about the food crisis. Russia denies accusations of blockading Ukraine’s ports and blames Western sanctions for slowing Russia’s own exports and Ukraine for setting mines at sea.
Ukraine claims that the Russian navy prevents it from shipping grain and other exports, accusing Russian forces of stealing grain from Ukrainian farms. If the signing goes ahead it will be the first proper deal between Russia and Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion. There have been prisoner exchanges, but a ceasefire still appears distant.
The grain export treaty is critically important for global food security, and will be signed in Istanbul under the supervision of President Erdogan and UN Secretary General Mr Guterres in the presence of Ukrainian and Russian delegations, stated Ibrahim Kalin, Mr Erdogan’s spokesman.
Russia interfering in grain export
There has been mounting evidence that Russian forces in annexed areas of Ukraine have been consecutively stealing grain and a variety of produce from local farmers. News outlets have spoken to farmers and have analyzed the satellite images and shipping data to observe where the grain is traveling.
Ukraine is a major exporter of wheat worldwide and is contributing to 9% of the global market. It also contributes a 42% chunk to the global sunflower oil market, and 16% to the world’s maize. Owing to the gridlock due to Russian blockade at Black Sea ports, as well as Russian and Ukrainian mines along the sea coast, about 20 to 25 million tonnes of wheat are siloed in Ukraine while global grain prices shoot upwards.
It has been noted that wheat prices have risen by 59% compared to last year, sunflower oil is up 30%, while maize is up by 23% higher. The United Nations is brokering deals in an attempt to establish a “grain corridor” with the help of a Turkish naval escort for tankers departing from Odessa. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had hit back saying that Ukraine needed to clear its mines from the Black Sea ports.
Russia amid food crisis
