The signing ceremony has just started. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, UN Secretary General António Guterres and delegations from Russia and Ukraine have arrived at the hall where the signing will take place.
- According to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Russia and Ukraine have achieved an agreement to resume grain shipments from the latter’s Black Sea ports.
- Asserting that both parties will instead approve “mirror” accords with Ankara and the UN, Kyiv has earlier said it would not sign a deal directly with Moscow.
On February 24, a historic step is being taken today in Istanbul to overcome the global food crisis, one of the most important consequences of the war that started with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The agreement on the transportation of grain and other food products to world markets via the Black Sea will soon be signed at the Dolmabahçe Palace…
The Agreement on the transportation of grain and other food products to world markets via the Black Sea will be signed today at the Dolmabahçe Office with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and UN Secretary General António Guterres.
The signing ceremony has just started. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, UN Secretary General António Guterres and delegations from Russia and Ukraine have arrived at the hall where the signing will take place.
THERE IS A LIGHT IN THE BLACK SEA TODAY
UN Secretary-General António Guterres took the floor first. Guterres said, “Today there is a light in the Black Sea, a light of hope, a light of relief. Your mediation has been indispensable. You overcame all obstacles for the representatives of Russia and Ukraine, you paved the way for a new initiative. This is an agreement for the benefit of the world.” Guterres continued;
“This is an agreement that will bring solutions for people living on the brink of famine. This initiative will enable food trade through 3 ports at a considerable rate. It will close the gap and lower prices for grain and food products to reach global markets.
This agreement did not come easily. Thanks to serious efforts, long hours of work by all parties, we have come to this conclusion. The determination here is more important than ever. This initiative must be implemented. We trust the Turkish government. The government must continue its critical role here.”
WILL BE A REMEDY FOR THE INCREASE IN FOOD PRICES
The agreement, signed after mediation efforts by Turkey and the UN since May, not only represents a first and a milestone in the war, but is also expected to provide a solution to the grain crisis that has engulfed the world and the accompanying rise in food prices.
WHAT WILL BE THE ROADMAP TO FOLLOW AFTER THE AGREEMENT?
The first aim of the efforts to create a grain corridor was to enable ships loaded with grain and other food products, which were stuck in Ukrainian ports, especially Odessa, due to mines, to open to world markets.
There are reportedly around 80 such ships. The formation of a corridor that will allow these ships to sail to the sea is important as it will mean the transportation of approximately 25 million tons of grain waiting for buyers in silos to world markets.
One of the most important pillars of the bargain was the security guarantees to be received from Moscow to ensure that the ships could leave the mined areas without any problems and not be exposed to Russian attacks.
UKRAINE WILL START EXPORTS WITH THE HELP OF PILOT SHIPS
With the creation of the food corridor, Ukraine will be able to start exports from the ports of Odessa, Pivdennyi and Chornomorsk, which are fully under its control. According to the agreement, cargo ships loaded with food will reach the Black Sea through mined ports via pilot ships and will be transported to world markets via predetermined routes.
In this process, it was reported in the press that Russia would implement a ceasefire and would not jeopardize the safety of the ships.
Ukraine, on the other hand, wants Russian ships not to enter Ukrainian territorial waters in any way.
