First breakthrough in dispute over Ukrainian grain exports

Created: 2022-07-13Updated: 2022-07-13, 9:20 p.m

Due to the ongoing Russian naval blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports, millions of tons of last year's harvest still cannot reach their destination.

© Efrem Lukatsky/AP/dpa

Because of the Ukraine war, grain prices are rising worldwide.

This threatens poor countries in particular.

Ukraine and Russia blame each other.

Now a solution is getting a good deal closer.

New York/Istanbul - A first breakthrough has been achieved in the dispute over grain exports from Ukraine.

At the talks between representatives of the United Nations, Ukraine, Russia and Turkey in Istanbul, a "decisive step" was taken towards a solution, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told journalists in New York on Wednesday.

"Today we finally have a bit of hope." Guterres initially did not share any details.

But he said, "More technical work will be needed for today's progress to materialize."

Millions of tons of grain have been blocked by Russia in Ukraine for weeks, and famine is threatening Africa.

© -/Ukrinform/dpa

For his part, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar announced agreements on technical issues such as joint controls on arrivals and departures from ports, Anadolu News Agency wrote.

Agreement was also reached on ensuring "shipping safety on the transfer routes".

In addition, a coordination center with representatives from all sides on the Bosporus should be created in Istanbul.

The strait running through Istanbul, over which Turkey has sovereignty, is the only sea route from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea.

Next week, the Ukrainian and Russian delegations plan to meet again in Turkey, Akar said.

The international community has been demanding that Russia allow the export of Ukrainian grain for weeks.

Ukraine complains that the Russian Navy is blocking its Black Sea ports.

Several ports - including the city of Mariupol - have come under Russian control in the course of the war of aggression.

The port in Mykolaiv, on the other hand, was badly damaged, so negotiations were now primarily about the release of Odessa.

Russia blames Ukraine

Russia denies blocking wheat exports.

However, international politicians have repeatedly contradicted Moscow's claim that the reason for the blockade was the Ukrainian refusal to clear mines from its ports.

There are safe corridors through which ships can sail, said Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi about two weeks ago.

Ukraine, on the other hand, fears new Russian attacks if it clears its ports.

Russia and Ukraine are among the largest wheat exporters and play an important role in world food security.

The United Nations recently warned of the worst famine in decades.

The move towards an agreement on the grain dispute shows that both Russia and Ukraine are capable of constructive dialogue, and that is "very good news," UN chief Guterres said.

But that does not yet offer a perspective for a peace treaty.

"There is still a long way to go before peace." dpa