Russia and Ukraine will sign an agreement on grain exports in Istanbul on Friday afternoon, the Turkish presidential office announced. The signing will be attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, as well as representatives of Russia and Ukraine.
Under the agreement, Ukrainian grain shipments stalled by the war would be allowed to travel across the Black Sea and restrictions on Russian grain and fertilizer shipments would be eased.
A diplomat, who asked not to be named, said Washington had recently promised guarantees that shipping companies could provide Moscow with large-capacity ships to export its grain and fertilizer without worrying about sanctions.
The United States welcomed the agreement on Thursday. "We welcome the announcement of the agreement in principle, but what is important to them now is that Russia takes responsibility for implementing the agreement and allowing Ukrainian grain to reach the world market," State Department spokesman Ned Price said.
"We should never have been in this situation. It was a deliberate decision by Russia to use food as a weapon," added the spokesman, who welcomed the diplomatic efforts of António Guterres and Turkey.
As for Ukrainian grain shipments, the agreement under negotiation envisages the re-use of the Black Sea through safe corridors and local ceasefires. Previously, the Ukrainian leadership feared that if it opened its ports, the Russian navy would use it to carry out landings on the part of the Black Sea coast still under Ukrainian control.
The inspection of merchant ships, presumably to be carried out by Turkey, will ensure that ships arriving in Odessa to load grain shipments do not carry weapons.
According to diplomats, a coordination center will be established in Istanbul with the participation of UN experts specializing in maritime navigation.
The purpose of the agreement to be concluded between Ukraine and Russia is to reduce grain prices, which have risen sharply in recent months, within a short period of time.
The food crisis experienced in several countries of the world threatens with famine, primarily in the countries of Black Africa, but also in Lebanon or Egypt.
Source: MTI/MH
Photo: Pexels
