Ukraine’s grain export agreement through the Black Sea is on the brink of collapse after Russian bombing of ports, but Ukraine said it hopes to start shipments as early as this week.
Ukraine’s infrastructure minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said at a press conference on the 25th local time, “Ukraine hopes to end the global food crisis according to an agreement mediated by the United Nations,” according to Archyde.com and AFP news agency.
The first shipments are expected to begin in Chornomorsk on the 27th, an infrastructure ministry official added.
“In the next two weeks, all three ports (Odessa, Chornomorsk and Yuzhny) will be ready to export grain,” Kubrakou said. The Coordination Center will be able to operate from the 27th.” In particular, he said that it is possible to import and export not only grains from Ukraine but also fertilizers, and there are no restrictions on the amount of grains exported.
For safety reasons, a Ukrainian technical ship will sail along the route first before the commercial ship departs, and a grain-loading ship will accompany a Ukrainian rescue ship. Demining operations will only be carried out on routes necessary for export, Kubrakou said.
Meanwhile, TAS news agency reported that Admiral Turkiye (Turkey) will lead a joint coordination center to be set up in Istanbul. The center will employ a total of 20 personnel from Ukraine, Russia, the United Nations and Turkey.
[사진 출처 : AFP=연합뉴스]