Ukrainian grain – News Agency nabakhabar

EU says it’s important to resume Türkiye-led grain deal

News Agency nabakhabar — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 18:03:29 +0000

A senior European Union official urged Russia to renew a deal to allow the safe export of Ukrainian grain through Black Sea ports after Russia quit the agreement last month.

European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said on Saturday that Russian restrictions on the shipping of Ukrainian grains via the Black Sea were creating problems not only for Kyiv but for many developing countries as well.

Russia is using “grain as a weapon”, said Dombrovskis, who is in India to participate in a G20 trade ministers’ meeting.

“We support all efforts by United Nations, by Turkey on Black Sea grain initiative,” he told reporters, adding the bloc was providing alternative trading routes, also called solidarity lanes, to Ukraine for grain and other exports.

Türkiye has been trying to persuade Moscow to return to the agreement, which was brokered by Ankara and the United Nations a year ago and which ended last month.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called for renewing the deal on his trip to Kyiv on Friday, saying there’s no other viable alternative to keeping the crucial food supply chain intact

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday that Russia will return to the deal only if the West fulfills its obligations to Moscow.

So far, some 45 million tonnes of grain, oil seeds and related products have been exported through alternative routes via Poland and Romania, providing an important lifeline to Ukraine, Dombrovskis said.

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Türkiye: Talks continue on extension of Black Sea grain deal

News Agency nabakhabar — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 18:20:36 +0000

Türkiye has said talks over the extension of a deal that allows the export of Ukrainian grain on the Black Sea are still continuing.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Turkish defense ministry cited Russia as agreeing to back a 60-day extension to the deal, brokered between Moscow and Kyiv in July by Türkiye and the United Nations.

“Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and the relevant authorities continue to negotiate and coordinate to carry on with the activities of the grain deal and to extend it in accordance with the agreement, with demands of the parties taken into account,” the National Defense Ministry said in a statement.

“In these talks, the parties are reminded of the importance of continuing this initiative, which has a positive impact on humanity around the world and proves that all crises can be resolved with goodwill and dialogue,” it read.

Black Sea grain deal is set to expire on Saturday.

Ensuring peace in the region

The Black Sea grain deal has allowed the export of 24 million tons of grains, the statement noted, adding that Türkiye will continue to do its part in ensuring peace in the region and humanitarian aid.

It also said “the steps taken by the parties to extend the initiative are appreciated.”

The statement came a day after Russia said it backs a 60-day extension to the historic deal that was signed by Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine in Istanbul last July to resume grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports which were paused after the Russia-Ukraine war began in February 2022.

However, Ukraine said Russia’s position to extend the deal “only for 60 days contradicts the document.”

The agreement allows only a 120-day extension, Ukraine said.

The deal was extended for 120 days in November 2022.

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UN chief to rich nations: ‘Open wallets’ and ‘hearts’ for developing countries to purchase Ukrainian grain

News Agency nabakhabar — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 13:19:34 +0000

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for wealthier countries to help developing nations purchase Ukrainian grain as supplies begin returning to global markets, in an appeal from the Black Sea port of Odesa on Friday, World Humanitarian Day.

Ships carrying grain have been leaving there under a recent UN-brokered agreement, and Mr. Guterres said Odesa was a symbol of what countries can achieve when they work together for the common good.

Speaking to journalists, the UN chief revealed that it was a moving experience to be at the port, where he witnessed wheat being loaded onto a ship.

“It’s obviously a reason for joy,” he said. “But it is also emotional because of the sadness I feel looking into this wonderful harbour and looking into these terminals practically empty with the possibility that this harbour has to develop; that Ukraine and the whole region being cut off because of the war”.

Vessels of hope

The Odesa port had been paralyzed for months due to the war, which meant that “a critical transportation line from a global breadbasket was cut”, he said.

Things are changing under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the deal to unblock grain and fertilizer exports, signed barely a month ago by Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye and the UN.

Since then, 25 ships have departed from Odesa and other Ukrainian ports, and more are on the way, said Mr. Guterres, speaking alongside Ukraine’s Infrastructure Minister, Oleksandr Kubrakov.

The ships have transported over 600,000 tonnes of grain and food products, namely wheat, corn, sunflower oil, and soybeans.

“But each ship is also a vessel of hope,” he said.  “Hope for Ukrainian farmers finally rewarded for their harvest – with storage being freed up for more. Hope for seafarers and the larger shipping community, knowing that it is once again possible to sail through the Black Sea safely and efficiently.  And, most of all, hope for the world’s most vulnerable people and countries”.

Support for developing countries

The UN chief issued a special call to rich nations on behalf of vulnerable people everywhere who are bearing the brunt of the global food crisis.

“As these ports open, I appeal for wealthier countries to also open their wallets and their hearts. After all, the movement of grains doesn’t mean much to countries that cannot afford it,” he said.

“It is time for massive and generous support so developing countries can purchase the food from this and other ports – and people can buy it.   Developing countries need access to financing now.  They need debt relief now.  They need resources to invest in their people now”.

The Secretary-General also called for more action to ensure full global access to Ukrainian food products, and Russian food and fertilizer, through the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

While no one ever expected the agreement would equal “smooth sailing”, it is unprecedented both in scope and scale, he said, adding that there is still a long way to go.

Mr. Guterres explained that getting more food and fertilizer out of Ukraine and Russia is crucial to further calm commodity markets and lower prices.

“But let’s not forget that what we see here in Odesa is only the more visible part of the solution.  The other part that is also important, that we have been defending, relates to the unimpeded access to the global markets of Russian food and fertilizer, which are not subject to sanctions”.

It is important that all governments and the private sector cooperate to bring them to market, because “without fertilizer in 2022, there may not be enough food in 2023″, he warned.

The Secretary-General underlined his deep commitment to these objectives, which he said will only happen if all parties cooperate.

Peace for Ukraine

He stressed the need to continue efforts towards improving global food supply and stabilizing markets and working for peace in line with the UN Charter and international law.

“Today, Odesa is more than just a shipping center.  This port is a symbol of what the world can do when we commit to working together for the common good,” he said.

“The Ukrainian people have been suffering so much. They have witnessed so many deaths and so much destruction that it is legitimate to aspire for peace. But again, I repeat peace in line with the UN Charter, peace in line with international law.  That is the best way to mark World Humanitarian Day and help set the course for a more just and peaceful world for all”.

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First grain ship leaves Ukraine: What, where and why this matters

News Agency nabakhabar — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 11:34:05 +0000

A vessel carrying Ukrainian grain has left the Black Sea port of Odesa for the first time since Russia’s invasion in late February.

The long-awaited development on Monday came after the United Nations and Turkey brokered an agreement between Russia and Ukraine last month. It has raised hopes of easing a growing food crisis threatening people around the world.

Here is what you need to know:

What happened?

The Razoni, a Sierra Leone-flagged vessel, departed Odesa shortly after 06:00 GMT, according to the Turkish defence ministry.
Carrying more than 26,000 metric tonnes of corn, the Chinese-built ship’s final destination is Tripoli, northern Lebanon.
Data from the Razoni’s Automatic Identification System, a safety tracker for ships at sea, showed the vessel slowly coming out from its berth at Odesa alongside a tug boat.
The ship has been proceeding very slowly due to the presence of mines in the Black Sea which were placed by Ukrainian forces to prevent the Russian army from advancing towards Odesa from the sea.
The loading of the ship was monitored by Ukrainian, Turkish and UN staff.

Where is the vessel going?

The vessel is expected to reach Istanbul at 12:00 GMT on Tuesday, where it will be inspected by personnel of the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC), comprising representatives of Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the UN. After the inspection, it will proceed to reach Tripoli.

Why is this important?

Ukraine and Russia are the world’s largest exporters of grain in the world, but the war caused a de facto blockade of the Black Sea.
This resulted in Ukraine’s exports dropping to one-sixth of their pre-war level, while grain prices spiked.
According to the UN’s World Food Programme, some 47 million people are now in a stage of “acute anger” due to the fallout from the war.
The deal signed last month on reopening blocked Black Sea delivery routes to export grain and other agricultural goods is aimed at helping to avert famine by injecting more wheat, sunflower oil, fertilizer and other products into world markets, including for humanitarian needs. It targets the pre-war level of 5 million metric tonnes of grain exported each month.
Ukraine Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said the shipments would provide at least $1bn in foreign exchange revenue to the economy and an opportunity for the agricultural sector to plan for next year.

What has been the reaction?

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba hailed the departure of the first shipment of grain as a “relief for the world”.
Similarly, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the development as “very positive” news, calling it “a good opportunity to test the effectiveness of the mechanisms that were agreed during talks in Istanbul”, referring to the deal reached last month on resuming exports from the latter’s Black Sea ports.
For its part, the UN said in a statement Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hopes it will be just the first of many commercial ships carrying Ukrainian grain abroad and bringing “much-needed stability and relief to global food security, especially in the most fragile humanitarian contexts”.

What is next?

Ukraine’s infrastructure ministry said 16 more ships were waiting their turn in the port of Odesa.
Last month’s deal is valid for 120 days and will be automatically renewed unless the war ends. It involves the ports of Odesa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny.
Turkey’s presidential spokesperson said on Sunday the agreement could pave the way for a peace deal between the warring parties.
Russian forces have attacked areas in Odesa region three times since the grain export deal was signed – the latest reported shelling was on Sunday, raising fears over future attacks.

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