Today in Istanbul, Russia and Ukraine should sign an agreement on the export of grain, the office of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced last night.
In addition to the representatives of Ukraine and Russia, Erdoğan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will also participate in the signing ceremony. As announced, the contract signing ceremony will take place at 15:30 CET in the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul.
– The contract should enable the export of Ukrainian grains lying in warehouses due to the blockade of the Black Sea ports, and facilitate the export of Russian grains and artificial fertilizers. An agreement is possible these days, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
Also: Zelenskyy spoke with Erdogan about the importance of unblocking Ukrainian ports and grain exports
He added that he is an optimist and that he has a passion for cereals.
The agreement should enable the re-use of the Black Sea ports thanks to the establishment of safe routes and ceasefires in transit areas.
An inspection of merchant ships was planned, which would most likely be entrusted to Turkey to ensure that ships going to Odesa for grain did not bring weapons. The establishment of a coordination center in Istanbul, in which UN and maritime experts would participate, is also planned, the diplomats said.
Also: Kyiv is negotiating with Turkey and the UN on guarantees for grain exports
The signing of the contract between Ukraine and Russia should quickly reduce prices, which have been rising sharply in recent months. As a result, the food crisis threatens a number of countries with starvation, it is most noticeable in Africa south of the Sahara, but also in Lebanon and Egypt, reports Reuters .
