A Russian deputy minister has warned that the deal to resume exports of Ukrainian grain is based on agreements that should also remove the barrier to the export of Russian agricultural products. Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said the grain deal will fail if sanctions hampering Russia’s food exports are not lifted.
The agreements came about thanks to Turkish diplomacy led by President Erdogan. A coordination center will open in Istanbul on Wednesday where envoys from Ukraine, Russia, the host country Turkey and the UN will monitor cargo ships and their cargoes and the shipping route. Then Ukrainian grain exports can cross the Black Sea again. This has to be done mainly from the port of Odessa and then according to the plan the cargo ships will sail safely over a sea route to the Bosphorus and to the world markets.
A Ukrainian official expected a freighter carrying wheat to set sail from the port of Chernomorsk, near Odessa, as early as Wednesday. A Turkish spokesman said ‘possibly this week’.
The war in Ukraine and the sanctions against Russia have deprived the world market of a huge part of the usual supply of grain. It leads to price increases and in many countries to food shortages. The grain deal should make it possible for at least 20 million tons of grain in Ukrainian ports to be shipped.