Russian fertilizers and agricultural products must have "unhindered" access to world markets, otherwise a global food crisis threatens next year.
That said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last weekend in Istanbul after earlier talks in Kiev, where he met Ukrainian and Turkish presidents Zelensky and Erdogan.
“It is important that governments and transport companies work together to get those Russian goods to foreign markets as well,” Guterres said during a visit to the Joint Coordination Center (JCC) in Istanbul. That agency oversees grain exports across the Black Sea.
That UN-backed agreement not only guarantees Ukrainian exports, but also stipulates that Russia can export its agricultural products and fertilizers despite Western sanctions. According to him, the transport of Ukrainian grains is only the most visible part of the solution.
“The other part of this comprehensive agreement is unimpeded access to world markets for Russian food and fertilizer products, which are not subject to sanctions,” said Antonio Guterres.
He pointed out that the export of Russian fertilizers and agricultural products is still faced with “obstacles”. Guterres did not mention any concrete examples, but it is known that almost all Russian exports suffer from the restrictions on international payments.
Since August 1, 650,000 tons have left the Ukrainian ports of Odessa, Chornomorsk and Pivdenny. Ships must use a secure corridor to cross the Black Sea before being allowed in Istanbul to cross the Bosphorus to the Mediterranean.
The UN Secretary-General said his organization would work to "step up" Ukraine's grain exports before the start of winter.