The head of the agriculture committee of the Turkish Parliament, Yunus Kilic, has confirmed that his country will be able to buy Ukrainian grain at a cheaper price thanks to its role as mediator and guarantor in the agreement signed on Friday in Istanbul, by which Ukraine will be able to resume its grain exports despite the Russian invasion.
“The ministers of Russia and Ukraine have verbally promised that Turkey would receive advantages in terms of grain prices and its purchase”Kilic told the ‘Sabah’ newspaper about the results of the Istanbul agreement, in which Russia also received guarantees to facilitate its fertilizer exports despite the sanctions in force against Moscow.
However, the deputy recalled that “kyiv will determine the countries of supply, their volumes and prices of grain,” has explained, while Turkey will limit itself to assuming an administrative function to facilitate the international trade of Ukrainian grain.
“It is an initiative that will benefit both countries,” the Turkish deputy declared.
Under the agreement, a coalition of Turkish, Ukrainian and UN personnel will supervise the loading of grain on ships in the Ukrainian ports of Odessa, Chernomosk and Pivdenyi, before sailing a pre-planned route across the Black Sea.
The ships will cross the Black Sea to the Bosphorus Strait in Turkey, wherea joint coordination center will be established in Istanbul, which includes representatives from the UN, Ukraine, Russia and Turkey. Likewise, this center will be in charge of examining the ships that enter Ukraine to guarantee that they do not carry weapons or combat material.