The first Ukraine grain ship safely crossed the Black Sea. After months, the first ship carrying grain from Ukraine was able to safely cross the Black Sea. The ship headed towards Lebanon. This action follows the agreement that Moscow and Kyiv reached in Istanbul on the export of blocked Ukrainian grain. Moreover, three more ships carrying thousands of tons of corn left Ukrainian ports on Friday. Around 20 million tons of grain have been stuck in Ukraine since the start of the war. These agricultural products either remain in the parts of Ukraine under Russian control or need to be exported from the Black Sea for global use.
Black Sea Grain Initiative
As AP News says, Russia and Ukraine signed agreements in Istanbul with Turkey and the UN on 22 July. The agreement cleared the way for Ukraine to export 22 million tons of grain and other agricultural products. The agricultural products have been stuck in Black Sea ports because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The deals also allow Russia to export grain and fertilizer.
According to the United Nations, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the agreement “a beacon of hope”. António Guterres was present at the signing ceremony on 27 July in Istanbul, Türkiye. António Guterres added that the world desperately needs the Ukrainian grain. The UN plan also paves the way for Russian food and fertilizer to reach global markets. The initiative allows for commercial food exports from three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea – Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Yuzhny.
First Ukraine grain ship to cross the Black Sea
According to Press Herald, the first Ukraine grain ship to leave Ukraine and cross the Black Sea passed inspection Wednesday. The inspection took place in Istanbul, and the ship headed on to Lebanon. Ukraine said 17 other vessels were “waiting for permission to leave”. A joint civilian inspection team spent three hours checking the cargo and crew of the Sierra Leone-flagged ship Razon. The ship left Odesa on Monday carrying Ukrainian corn, a UN statement said.
The Indian Express says, On Monday, ‘Razoni’, carrying 26,527 tonnes of corn (maize), set sail from Ukraine’s Odesa port. This was the first Ukraine grain ship departing from Ukraine ports on the Black Sea since Russia’s invasion. The ship was heading for Tripoli in northern Lebanon. According to AP News, Lebanon, the corn’s destination, is in the grip of a severe financial crisis. A 2020 explosion at its main port in Beirut shattered its capital city and destroyed grain silos.
Checking the ship
According to Los Angeles Times, a joint civilian inspection team spent three hours checking the cargo and crew. A United Nations statement said this. The checks seek to make sure that outbound cargo ships carry only grain, fertilizer, or related food. They cannot carry other commodities or weapons.
Further ships ready for departure
As Press Herald says, “further ships are already ready for departure. They will depart from the ports that are part of the grain initiative in accordance with the agreed schedule.” Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said at a joint press conference in Kyiv with his Estonian counterpart. According to KKTV, Ukraine said 17 other vessels were “loaded and waiting permission to leave.” However, there was no word yet on when they could depart. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Razon’s journey a “significant step”.
Three more Ukraine grain ships depart Ukraine ports
According to CBS News, Three more ships carrying thousands of tons of corn have left Ukrainian ports. Officials said this on Friday. This shows that a negotiated deal to export Ukraine grain is slowly materializing. However, major hurdles lie ahead in getting food to the countries that need it most.
The ships bound for Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Turkey followed the first grain shipment to pass through the Black Sea since the start of the war. The three ships left Friday with over 58,000 tons of corn. There are 20 million tons of grains in the country’s silos and ports. Ukraine must ship them out to make space for this year’s harvest.
Worldwide benefits
According to Press Herald, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the Black Sea Grain Initiative “is beneficial to Ukrainian farmers. It is beneficial to the Ukrainian economy, and it is beneficial to the world. He added that Ukraine is saving the world from further growth in food prices and from hunger in individual countries.
As KKTV says, Ukraine is a major global grain supplier, but the war has blocked most exports. Therefore, the 22 July deal aimed to ease food security around the globe. World food prices have been soaring in a crisis blamed on the war, supply chain problems, and COVID-19. In this regard, AP News says that Ukraine and Russia are major suppliers of wheat, barley, corn, and sunflower oil. The fertile Black Sea region is long known as the breadbasket of Europe. The holdup of shipments because of the war has worsened rising food prices worldwide. Moreover, it has threatened hunger and political instability in developing nations.
Final remark
As PBS News says, grain stockpiles will keep growing. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal estimated his country would harvest up to 67 million tons of grain this year. This is up from 60 million tons last year. A senior official estimated Ukraine would have about 50 million tons of grain for export this year. The senior official from a leading Ukrainian farm association. According to Aljazeera, Gerhard Schroeder says that Moscow wants to negotiate a solution to the conflict. Gerhard Schroeder is a former German chancellor and a friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Gerhard Schroeder believes that the Black Sea Grain Initiative may offer a way to a possible ceasefire.
To sum up, many countries will undoubtedly benefit from the export of Ukraine grain. However, western countries, including the US and UK, welcome the Black Sea Grain Initiative because they themselves benefit from it. As CBS News says, Ireland and the UK are among the destinations of Ukraine grain ships.
