Despite Russia’s withdrawal from grain deal: two grain ships leave Ukraine | Abroad

Two ships, the Palaus ship Admiral de Ribas and the Hong Kong ship Mount Baker, left the port of Chornomorsk, near the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa, between 5:30 am and 6:30 am. At the same time, the Turkish freighter Ocean Legend left the port of Istanbul to enter the humanitarian grain corridor towards Ukraine via the Bosphorus strait.

Today, a total of twelve cargo ships have to leave the Ukrainian ports. Four other ships, one of which has already departed under the Turkish flag, are to sail to Ukraine. This is reported by the Joint Coordination Center (JCC), the joint coordination center that monitors Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea.

Meanwhile, delegations from Turkey and the United Nations have also agreed to provide additional resources and ten inspection teams. They must inspect 40 ships heading for Ukraine today, the JCC announced. “The inspection plan was accepted by the Ukrainian delegation. The delegation of the Russian Federation has been informed,” the coordination center said.

Russia suspended grain deal agreements “indefinitely” after a drone strike on Russian ships off the Crimean peninsula. According to Russia, Ukraine was behind the attack.

Russia’s suspension of the deal was the latest food supply setback. On the main US grain exchange, the one in Chicago, wheat and corn prices rose due to increased uncertainty about global supply.

Grain exports from Ukraine came to a temporary standstill after the Russian invasion. Last summer, however, Russia and Ukraine reached an agreement so that Ukraine could again export grain across the Black Sea, after mediation by Turkey and the United Nations.

Since the agreement, the grain corridor has eased the tightness in the grain market. Ukraine has shipped more than 9 million tons of grain and other foodstuffs. The agreement has also resulted in lower prices for maize and wheat from the peaks of earlier this year. The agreement expires on November 19 and officials in Moscow had already expressed doubts about whether they would extend their participation.