Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Sunday that there is "a high probability" that a first ship carrying Ukrainian grain could leave Monday morning the port of Odessa, Ukraine, according to the terms of an agreement reached on July 22 with Russia.
“There is a strong probability that a first boat could leave tomorrow morning if everything is settled by this evening,” said the spokesperson, during an interview with the private channel Kanal 7. The representative of the he Turkish state, however, clarified that there are still “one or two issues to be settled in the negotiations with the Russians”.
“Preparations have reached a point that would allow the departure of ships from the port of Odessa.
The ships have been loaded, they are ready to go, but there needs to be good logistical coordination,” he added.
Alleviating the global food crisis
The resumption of exports was also mentioned in a meeting between the Turkish Minister of Defense and the Ukrainian Ministers of Defense and Infrastructure, announced Ankara on Sunday.
"It is planned to start transport as soon as possible," the Turkish ministry said in a statement.
The Joint Coordination Center (JCC), responsible for controlling Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea, was officially inaugurated on Wednesday in Istanbul in accordance with the agreements signed on July 22.
The agreement to lift the blockade - the first significant text involving both sides since the conflict began - aims to ease a global food crisis that has seen prices soar in some of the world's poorest countries.
The CCC must register and monitor the merchant vessels that will participate in the convoys, monitor them via the Internet and by satellite, have the vessels inspected at the time of loading in Ukrainian ports and upon arrival in Turkish ports.
