Grain deal to unblock Ukrainian maritime exports signed in Turkey
Today, July 22, delegations of Ukraine, Turkey, russia and the UN signed a deal in Istanbul on unblocking Ukraine's maritime ports on the Black Sea.
Ukraine, Turkey and U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres signed the "Initiative on the Safe Transportation of Grain and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian Ports".
The document shall be adopted by the Government of Ukraine and will be fully available to the public. A similar document will be signed by the representatives of Turkey, the UN and russia.
"The purpose of this Initiative is to facilitate the safe navigation for the export of grain and related foodstuffs and fertilizers, including ammonia from the Ports of Odea, Chornomorsk and Pivdenny," the document reads.
UN officials said that the first grain shipments from Odesa and neighbouring ports were expected within a few weeks, which would allow for a quick supply of 5 mln t of Ukrainian grain and other food products per month to the world market.
The document does not provide for any easing of sanctions against russia, although the russians have repeatedly tried to do so. The initiative remains in force for 120 days from the date of signature by all parties and can be automatically renewed for the same period.
U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Ukraine agreed to clear only a few mines and send cargo ships into international waters with its navy or coast guard captains. The foreign crews would then take the ships to Istanbul, which in turn would go to other ports of call.
U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price mentioned that it was important to get the russian side to implement the agreement. But he assured that the United States would continue to work with allies and partners on this.
"We welcome reports on this agreement and its principles. But right now we are focused on making russia responsible for implementing this agreement and getting Ukrainian grain to the world markets," Price said.
Amid the signing of agreements, journalists also learned that a tanker carrying liquid fertilizer from russia was about to arrive in the United States.
"The Liberia-flagged tanker Johnny Ranger was scheduled to arrive in New Orleans on Monday carrying about 39,000 tonnes of urea ammonium nitrate solution, a fertilizer produced by combining urea, nitric acid and ammonia, the sources and Refinitiv Eikon data showed," Reuters reports.
The U.S. Treasury Department and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency declined to comment.
