Russia and Ukraine have agreed, with the mediation of Turkey and the UN, on the resumption of Ukrainian grain exports to the Black Sea. The signing of the agreement was announced by the UN Secretary General in Istanbul on Friday. "Today we see a beacon in the Black Sea, a light of hope, opportunity and relief that the world needs now more than ever," said António Guterres.

António Guterres , the agreement allows the export of a significant amount of food from the ports of Odessa, Chornomorsk and Pivdenny. The Secretary General called on Russia and Ukraine to fully comply with the agreement.

Due to the threat of global grain supply difficulties, the long-awaited agreements were signed in the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul. Russia and Ukraine, two of the world's largest grain exporters, have separately signed an agreement to export millions of tons of grain from Ukraine. , Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was also present at the signing ceremony

Mihajlo Podoljak announced on Twitter before the ceremony: Ukraine will not sign any documents directly with Russia. Ukraine only signs agreements with Turkey and the UN. Russia signs the same agreement with Ankara and the World Organization. Podoljak categorically ruled out the participation of Russian ships and the presence of representatives of Moscow in Ukrainian ports. "In case of provocation, we will give an immediate military response," the adviser wrote. If necessary, all inspections will be carried out by “joint groups” in Turkish waters…

…The Russian blockade of Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea has left millions of tons of grain in storage and many ships stranded in port, further worsening already shrinking global supplies and, coupled with Western sanctions, causing soaring inflation in food and energy markets worldwide . According to the current agreement, despite the Russian blockade, the transportation of Ukrainian grain can resume on the Black Sea, in safe corridors guaranteed by local ceasefires, and Russia, which has been hit by sanctions, can resume grain and fertilizer shipments.

Senior UN officials said on Friday that the agreement would be fully operational in a few weeks. The agreement will be valid for 120 days, but can be extended.

"The fact that two parties at war - and not just any war - were able to reach such an agreement is unprecedented," a UN official told Reuters.

To counter Russian concerns that returning ships could smuggle weapons into Ukraine, representatives of all parties screen and monitor ships passing through the Bosphorus from the Black Sea to world markets by the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu "Russia has undertaken obligations that are clearly stated in this document. We will not use it to our advantage to have these ports cleared and opened. We are committed to this."

Source: Magyar Hírlap

(Headline photo: AFP/Ozan Kose )