Ten days ago, Ukraine and Russia signed an agreement with Turkey and the United Nations to resume grain exports through the Black Sea. According to the Turks, the joint coordination center in Istanbul is finalizing the export routes. Ukraine’s infrastructure minister said Friday that the first ship is ready to leave the port of Chernomorsk, next to Odesa.
Due to the Russian naval blockade, there are now 20 million tons of grain in Ukrainian storage depots. Its exports could counter the looming food shortages and rising prices worldwide.
Ukraine and Russia together account for roughly a third of world wheat production. Their war has left a huge hole in the usual supply on the world market. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Twitter on Sunday that this year’s harvest in Ukraine could be half the usual amount due to the Russian invasion. According to him, the main goal is to prevent a global food crisis.