The Ukrainian Agriculture Ministry reported Tuesday that a total of 33 cargo ships carrying about 720,000 tonnes of foodstuffs have left Ukraine since a deal to facilitate the export of grain out of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports was implemented.
The numbers show that the deal between Russia and Ukraine that was brokered by the UN and Turkey and signed in July has been a success. Ukraine’s Agriculture Ministry said that in addition to the 33 ships that have left, another 18 are loading and are preparing to depart from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports.
The grain deal established a coordination center in Istanbul that is manned by officials from Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, and the UN. The coordination center said the total amount of grain and foodstuffs exported since the deal was signed has reached 721,449 tonnes.
Under the deal, Ukraine agreed to escort ships out of its heavily mined ports and Russia agreed not to attack the areas while vessels were moving. Both Turkey and the UN have said they hope the grain deal could lead to more negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and, ultimately, a peace deal.
But there are no signs that peace talks will happen anytime soon as the US and other Western countries are pouring weapons into Ukraine and Ukrainian leadership insists they will take back the territory Russia has captured since February 24. On top of sending billions in arms into Ukraine, the US has abandoned diplomacy with Russia and played no role in brokering the grain deal.
This is all just a phase. Winter is coming…
Turkey & the UN. In my mind, not the reverse.
If the bombing of Crimea continues that will stop.
Such nonsense! The Russians were more than willing to allow the grain ships to leave the ports controlled by the Neo Nazi Kiev regime right from the beginning. Fine, the “agreement” is a success. But only because the Neo Nazi Kiev regime “agreed” to open its own ports, which it had unilaterally closed, and to guide the grain ships through the mine fields, which it created, in the waters leading from the harbors to the open sea. All along, the Russians said they would not attack the grain ships, and would respect the loading facilities and the corridor to the sea. Meanwhile, the Neo Nazi Kiev regime was insisting on completely unrealistic, and completely unrelated, conditions for its “agreement,” namely that Russia institute a unilateral cease fire, and “withdraw its troops.”
Official statement of Neo Nazi Kiev regime, 31March2022:
The preconditions for the safe evacuation of ships, outlined by
Ukraine during the 35th extraordinary session of the I МО Council
as well as the 109th session of the Legal Committee, are clear:
Russia must fully stop the hostilities, withdraw its troops and
ensure the freedom and safety of navigation in the Black Sea and
the Sea of Azov, including by carrying out mine-sweeping
activities with the involvement of Black Sea littoral states.
https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/Documents/Black%20Sea%20and%20Sea%20of%20Azov%20-%20Member%20States%20and%20Associate%20Members%20Communications/Circular%20Letter%20No.4544%20-%20Communication%20From%20The%20Government%20Of%20Ukraine%20(Secretariat).pdf
Statement of International Maritime Organization:
The Russian Federation has informed IMO that it had established a humanitarian corridor, to provide for the safe evacuation of ships once outside the territorial waters of the Ukraine. Despite this initiative, there remain many safety and security issues which hamper access to the corridor and the ability for ships to depart from their berth in Ukrainian ports.
Ukraine’s ports…remain closed for entry and exit. Sea mines have been laid in port approaches and some port exits are blocked by sunken barges and cranes…
Ukraine also provided their preconditions for the safe evacuation of ships from their ports. These include an end to hostilities, the withdrawal of troops and ensuring the freedom of navigation in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, including carrying out mine-sweeping activities with the involvement of Black Sea littoral states.”
Only when the Neo Nazi regime gave up those ridiculous demands and “preconditions,” and finally “agreed” to re open its own damn ports and guide the ships through its own damn mine fields did the grain shipments resume.
In other words, the “agreement” meant very little, and was completely unnecessary all along. Kabuki theater, PR play acting, and a farce. Par for the course for the Neo Nazi Kiev regime.