RUSSIA/UKRAINE: Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis that has resulted in great damage to human life and property as well as a reduced supply of gas and food grains in international networks, the two countries are all set to sign a grain deal on Friday aimed at reviving the blocked Black Sea grain exports.
It comes at a crucial juncture when Russia has blocked Ukraine’s grain exports which has led to a massive food crisis globally.
The ongoing crisis has left the prices of fertilizers, fuel, and food skyrocketing through the roof. Food experts claim that millions of people around the world are at risk of being pushed to starvation. Therefore, urgent action is needed.
Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan’s office announced that Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will sign a deal on Thursday to resume grain exports.
Ibrahim Kalin, Erdogan’s spokesperson, also tweeted: “The grain export agreement, critically important for global food security, will be signed in Istanbul on Friday under the auspices of President (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan and UN Secretary-General M. Guterres together with Ukrainian and Russian delegations.”
Both Russia and Ukraine are the biggest exporters of wheat and rice globally and up to 25 million tonnes of wheat and other food grains have been blocked in Ukrainian ports.
However, there was no confirmation from the Kremlin.
In a late-night address to his countrymen, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky hinted that his country’s Black Sea ports could soon be unblocked and ready for flow and supply of food grains.
Zelensky said: “And tomorrow we also expect news for our state from Turkey- regarding the unblocking of our ports.”
Yesterday, Putin met Turkish President Erdogan in Tehran and held deliberations over the grain deal. Putin expressed his thanks for Erdogan’s mediating talk on the grain export from Ukraine. He mentioned that there was some progress.
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