The United Nations expects that the first ship carrying grain can set sail in the coming days from one of the three Ukrainian Black Sea ports, possibly as early as Friday. The first ships are said to have already been loaded.
Shipping companies and marine insurers must be certain that the transport is safe, without the risk of mines or missile attacks, emphasized a UN spokesperson. These ships must be able to move safely, which means we need to have clarity about the exact route intended for them,” he added.
In Ukrainian ports, 25 million tons of grain await export, and the Russian blockade has caused a sharp increase in food prices, exacerbating the global food crisis which, according to the World Food Programme, has led to “severe hunger” for about 47 million people worldwide.
A Russian minister tempered expectations about a soon first grain convoy. He pointed out that it was agreed that all Western restrictions on Russian food trade would also be lifted, and according to Moscow, that has not yet happened.
A UN spokesperson at the Coordination Center in Istanbul said that grain ships will be inspected in Turkey “to ensure they are not carrying contraband or weapons.” These inspections will likely take place at an anchorage north of the Bosporus; details will be announced later.”
On July 22, Ukraine and Russia signed two separate “mirror agreements” with Turkey and the UN to unblock Ukrainian grain export via the Black Sea ports.
Grain transport ships will be escorted by Turkish warships, and the Ukrainian navy will guide them through the minefields in Ukrainian ports.