Ukraine could release grain after Russia deal
Russia pledges not to fire at Black Sea ships in deal charity hails as ‘nothing short of life-saving’
Russia yesterday pledged not to launch a sea invasion after Ukraine agreed to clear mines from its Black Sea ports in a deal to release grain exports and ease a looming global food crisis. Russia and Ukraine signed the agreement in Istanbul yesterday, under the mediation of the United Nations and Turkey. The accord should mean Ukrainian grain exports are resumed within days. Roman Abramovich, the former Chelsea owner who mediated the talks, was present at the signing.
RUSSIA yesterday pledged not to launch a sea invasion after Ukraine agreed to clear mines from its Black Sea ports in a deal to release grain exports and ease a looming global food crisis.
Russia and Ukraine signed the deal to resume the shipping of Ukrainian grain in Istanbul yesterday under the mediation of the United Nations and Turkey.
The accord should mean Ukrainian grain exports are resumed within days.
Several dozen ships and more than 20 million tons of grain have been stuck in Ukraine’s ports since Russia invaded on Feb 24 and started pounding Ukrainian towns with heavy artillery.
Under the deal, reached with mediation from the oligarch Roman Abramovich, who was present at the signing ceremony, Russia has formally agreed not to fire at the ships while Ukrainian vessels will be dispatched to guard shipments in and out of its Black Sea ports.
Representatives of Ukraine, Russia and Turkey will be inspecting ships upon arrival and before departure to Ukraine to alleviate fears of weapon smuggling, a key Kremlin demand.
Ukraine laid mines on the approaches to its ports as a precaution against a Russian naval landing and previously scoffed at Moscow’s calls to de-mine them while hostilities continue. The deal does not specify conditions for demining but says a third party will carry the process out.
Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s defence minister, who signed the deal yesterday, pledged not to attack the ports if the mines are cleared. “Russia has taken on the obligations that are clearly spelled out in this document,” he said.
“We will not take advantage of the fact that the ports in question will be de-mined and reopened.
“We have made this commitment.” Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary general, who presided over the signing ceremony, called the deal a “beacon of hope on the Black Sea” amid a looming food crisis that would help “bridge the global food supply gap and reduce the pressure on food prices”.
The International Committee of the Red Cross described the agreement as “nothing short of life-saving for people across the world to feed their families”.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish president, who hosted the talks and enjoys close ties with both Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, and Vladimir Putin, called on the countries to resume peace talks that were last held in Istanbul in April. He insisted that the five-month-long conflict cannot be resolved on the battlefield.
“This joint step we’re taking in Istanbul together with Russia and Ukraine today will be a new turning point that will revive hopes for peace: This is my sincere hope,” Mr Erdogan said.
“The war will finally end at the negotiating table.”
The news comes after discussions and a preliminary agreement was reached in Istanbul last week.
The accord, published online by a deputy head of the Zelensky administration, stipulates that grain will be allowed to leave Ukraine through the Black Sea without Russian escort and without oversight of Ukrainian ports.
“The joint inspection will ensure that ‘Trojan horses’ do not enter our ports under the disguise of civilian ships,” Oleksandr Kubrakov, who signed the deal for Ukraine, said.
The grain supplies should resume within days, according to Mr Erdogan and Mr Shoigu.
Liz Truss, the Foreign Secretary, urged Russia to stand by its word.
“Now this agreement must be implemented, and we will be watching to ensure Russia’s actions match its words,” she said. “To enable a lasting return to global security and economic stability, Putin must end the war and withdraw from Ukraine.”