Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and UN Secretary-General António Guterres will sign an agreement on Friday to resume Ukrainian grain exports to the Black Sea, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s office said on Thursday.
Russia and Ukraine are the world’s major grain suppliers, but the February 24 invasion of Moscow drove up food prices and triggered an international food crisis. The war damaged Kyiv’s exports, leaving dozens of ships stranded and about 20 million tons of grain stuck in the port of Odessa.
Ankara said talks in Istanbul last week reached a general agreement on the UN-sponsored plan, and the parties must now put it in writing. The details of the deal were not immediately known. It is expected to be signed on Friday at the office of the Dolmabahce Palace, an official source in the Turkish presidency said.
Ahead of last week’s talks, diplomats said details of the plan included Ukrainian ships escorting ships carrying grain in and out of the port’s mined waters; Russia agrees to a truce for the duration of the movement of goods; and Turkey – with UN support – to inspect ships to allay Russian concerns about arms smuggling.
The United Nations and Turkey worked for two months as brokers in what Guterres described as a deal to restart Ukrainian grain exports to the Black Sea and facilitate Russian supplies of grain and fertilizer.
Author: Reuters
Source: CM Jornal
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
