RUSSIA AND UKRAINE SIGN GRAIN DEAL EASING CONCERNS ABOUT GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS

Fri 22 July 2022:

On Friday, Russia and Ukraine signed separate agreements with Turkey and the United Nations, ending a wartime standoff that had threatened global food security and paving the way for the export of millions of tons of urgently needed Ukrainian grain as well as Russian grain and fertilizer.

Separate agreements were signed with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, was present for the ceremony.

Today, there is a beacon on the Black Sea, Guterres said.

A beacon of hope, a beacon of possibility, a beacon of relief in a world that needs it more than ever.

You have overcome obstacles and put aside differences to pave the way for an initiative that will serve the common interests of all, he said, addressing the Russian and Ukrainian representatives.

Ukrainian and Russian military delegations reached a tentative agreement last week on a UN plan that would also allow Russia to export its grain and fertilizers.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukraine’s president, stressed on Friday that Ukraine and Russia would sign separate agreements.

Ukraine does not sign any documents with Russia, Podolyak wrote on Twitter, adding that his country would sign an agreement with Turkey and the UN, with Russia signing a separate mirror agreement.

Ukraine is one of the world’s largest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil, but Russia’s invasion of the country and naval blockade of its ports have halted shipments. Some grain is being transported through Europe by rail, road and river, but the prices of vital commodities like wheat and barley have soared during the nearly five-month war.

In Washington, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said the US welcomes the agreement in principle. But what we’re focusing on now is holding Russia accountable for implementing this agreement and for enabling Ukrainian grain to get to world markets. It has been for far too long that Russia has enacted this blockade, Price said.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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