Status: 07/14/2022 10:11 a.m
About 20 million tons of grain are stuck in Ukrainian ports because of the Russian naval blockade. But after negotiations with Russia, Turkey and the UN, Ukraine is hoping for a quick solution.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed optimism that his country will soon be able to export grain again. “The Ukrainian delegation informed me that there is some progress,” he said in his video address on the negotiations in Turkey on the lifting of the naval blockade of Ukrainian ports by the Russian Navy. If the Russian threat to shipping in the Black Sea can be ended, the global food crisis will become less acute.
Yesterday, representatives of the United Nations, Ukraine, Russia and Turkey met in Istanbul to find a solution to the grain conflict. According to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, a “decisive step” was taken. “Today we finally have a bit of hope,” he said without giving details. “More technical work will be required for today’s progress to materialize.”
Negotiators want to meet again
For his part, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar announced agreements on technical issues such as joint controls on arrivals and departures from ports, Anadolu Agency reported. Agreement was also reached on ensuring “shipping safety on the transfer routes”. In addition, a coordination center with representatives from all sides on the Bosporus should be created in Istanbul. The countries’ negotiators planned to meet again next week to sign the agreement, Akar said.
It is estimated that around 20 million tons of grain are stuck in Ukrainian ports because of the war. Russia and Ukraine account for almost a third of global wheat shipments. The main customers are usually countries in the Middle East and North Africa. The UN estimates that the current blockade could cause starvation in up to 19 million people next year.
Topic overview
war in Ukraine