How to safely export millions of tons of grain from Ukraine? Now there is progress in the negotiations – the UN and Turkey are playing a leading role.
New York/Istanbul – The export of millions of tons of grain from the war-torn Ukraine is to be jointly monitored by the conflicting parties under UN leadership.
An agreement to end the Russian grain blockade in the Black Sea, which has not yet been signed, provides for a joint control center in Istanbul, which is said to be managed by the United Nations and staffed by representatives from Russia, Ukraine and Turkey. The German Press Agency learned this from diplomatic circles in New York. The exact coordinates for the humanitarian corridor by sea between Ukraine and the Bosphorus are also to be determined at this headquarters in the Turkish metropolis.
According to the information, the parties also agreed that ships bound for Ukraine would first be searched in Istanbul to ensure that they were not carrying weapons or the like. There should be another search in Turkey if the ships coming from Ukraine want to leave the Black Sea again. This is to ensure that only grain is on board. Ships in the humanitarian corridor and the ports involved should not be attacked. The agreement is initially valid for four months.
Because of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, millions of tons of grain cannot be exported from the country. However, the food is urgently needed on the world market – especially in Asia and Africa. The United Nations warn of ever worsening hunger crises.
According to the information, the implementation – and thus the export of food from Ukraine – could take weeks. Western diplomats noted that it was still possible that Moscow could use bogus reasons to fail to implement the agreements. The agreement is scheduled to be signed in Istanbul on Friday at 3:30 p.m. (CEST). dpa
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