Zelensky in Odesa as grain exports resume from Ukrainian ports

UKRAINIAN President Volodymyr Zelensky has visited the Odesa region to see the loading of grain as exports resume for the first time since the start of the Russian invasion.

Mr Zelensky observed a Turkish ship loaded with grain.

“The first vessel, the first ship is being loaded since the beginning of the war,” Mr Zelensky said. He said the export of grain will begin with the departure of several ships that were already loaded but could not depart from Ukrainian ports.

“Our side is fully prepared. We sent all the signals to our partners – the UN and Turkey, and our military guarantees the security situation,” he said, adding: “It is important for us that Ukraine remains the guarantor of global food security.”

The visits to the ports are part of a broader push by Ukraine to show the world they are nearly ready to export millions of tons of grain to the world after last week’s breakthrough agreement. The complexities of the agreement and concerns about the safety of shipping crews has set the deal off to a slow, cautious start. It has been a week since it was signed and no grain has yet left ports but the sides are facing a ticking clock – the deal is only set for 120 days. It comes a week after Russian missiles struck Odesa, throwing into question Moscow’s commitment to the deal signed only hours earlier.

The sides agreed to facilitate the shipment of Ukrainian wheat and other grain from Black Sea routes blocked by five months of war, as well as fertiliser and food from Russia. The goal over the next four months is to get some 20 million tons of grain out of three Ukrainian sea ports blocked since the February 24 invasion.