2023-08-26 02:55:00
Zelensky expressed his concern about the situation in the Black Sea unleashed after the break on July 17 of the agreement that facilitated the export of cereals. Photo: AFP
The President of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenski, met this Friday with the Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, to discuss, among other issues, the risks of the Black Sea grain corridor, a week after the first cargo of a Ukrainian port following the Russian side’s suspension of the grain export deal and amid escalating fighting.
“A very important meeting of President Volodymyr Zelensky and his team with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. We discussed the risks related to the Russian blockade of the Black Sea grain corridor,” Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmigal said in a statement. Telegram.
During the meeting, held in kyiv, Zelensky expressed his concern about the situation in the Black Sea that was unleashed after the rupture on July 17 of the agreement that facilitated the export of cereals.
The food pact, signed on July 22, 2022, created a safe corridor through the Black Sea that allowed 37 million tons of grain to be removed from the conflict zone, including 725,000 tons for the UN World Food Program
“I would like to examine the risks of Russia’s blockade of the Black Sea, and also address our grain corridor and the grain shortage,” the Ukrainian president said in a video posted on Telegram.
During the meeting with Fidan “many important issues” were also discussed, including the “peace formula” proposed by Ukraine and the international summit it wants to convene, Zelensky added, according to the Sputnik news agency.
The Ukrainian president thanked Turkey for “its constant and consistent support for Ukraine.”
Turkey participated together with the UN in the mediation that led Ukraine and Russia to sign an agreement that facilitated grain exports in the Black Sea more than a year ago.
The meeting took place after the first cargo ship that left Ukraine after the suspension of the pact arrived in Turkey last Friday.
The Joseph Schulte ship, which carries more than 2,000 containers, managed to cross the Black Sea in a particularly difficult context, given that the security of the area is no longer guaranteed since Russia withdrew from the agreement.
Turkey participated together with the UN in the mediation that led Ukraine and Russia to sign an agreement that facilitated grain exports in the Black Sea more than a year ago.
The food pact, signed on July 22, 2022, created a safe corridor through the Black Sea that allowed 37 million tons of grain to be removed from the conflict zone, including 725,000 tons for the UN World Food Program for the population of Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
Under the agreement, the UN promised to suspend the restrictions imposed by the European Union and the United States on Russian exports of food and fertilizers.
The pact, extended several times, was considered vital to avoid a food crisis in poor countries that depend on Ukrainian cereals, especially in Africa.
Beyond direct aid to these needy countries and sales to other developing countries in Africa and the Middle East, unlocking exports was key to lowering world prices for wheat, corn, barley, and sunflower oil.
Under the agreement, the UN pledged to lift restrictions imposed by the European Union and the United States on Russian exports of food and fertilizer.
Turkey participated together with the UN in the mediation that led Ukraine and Russia to sign an agreement that facilitated grain exports in the Black Sea more than a year ago
Russia suspended its participation in the agreement on the grounds that its conditions were not met.
Since July 20, Moscow has considered ships sailing in the Black Sea to Ukrainian ports as military objectives.
Although the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, affirmed that he does not rule out the possibility of resuming said pact, this week he warned that for this it is necessary to comply with the “obligations” with the Russian side, which demands fewer obstacles to send its own merchandise to the foreign.
UN Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo warned that fighting has escalated since Russia pulled out of the grain export deal.
For her part, the UN Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, warned that the fighting has escalated since Russia withdrew from the grain export agreement.
“There is no end in sight to this war. In fact, since Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Initiative on July 17, fighting has only intensified. We are witnessing rising tensions and threats to freedom of navigation in the Black Sea,” DiCarlo told the UN Security Council.
“On Wednesday alone, as a result of another drone attack on the Odessa region, 13,000 tons of grain were destroyed,” the UN representative said.
#Ukraine #Turkey #analyze #risks #grain #corridor #departure #Russia