Officials from Ukraine, Russia, and Turkey will meet in Istanbul on Friday to sign a deal proposed by the UN to facilitate the export of Ukrainian grain, a spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.
Turkey first announced the tentative deal last week after hosting talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the UN. Under the agreement, Ukrainian vessels would guide ships in and out of Ukraine’s heavily mined ports, and Russia would agree not to attack the area while shipments were moving.
Turkey’s role would be to inspect ships leaving Ukrainian ports for smuggled arms, and Istanbul would have the support of the UN for the mission. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to be in Istanbul on Friday for the signing of the deal.
“The grain export agreement, critically important for global food security, will be signed in Istanbul tomorrow under the auspices of President Erdogan and UN Secretary-General Mr. Guterres together with Ukrainian and Russian delegations,” Erdogan spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said.
Turkey has emerged as a broker between Russia and Ukraine and has been calling for a negotiated solution to end the war, unlike the US and other NATO members that have shown little interest in diplomacy.
Despite having no involvement in the brokering of the grain deal, the US said Thursday that it will hold Russia “accountable” to see that it’s implemented.
“What we have heard within that past couple of hours is a welcome development, but what will really matter is the implementation of this agreement. We will of course continue to work with our partners to hold Russia accountable for its implementation,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said.
Now that Turkey has facilitated this deal, we the US act like we are the parents in charge and will hold Russia “accountable.” We the US want the credit without assuming any responsibility.
Yes, really insipid.
80% of that grain was produced by people who opposed the US imposed Nazi regime, deemed “cockroaches” and “subhumans” by the Kiev junta meaning that, next year, at the current rate of liberation, what’s left of the ukraine won’t have anything to export let alone feed itself.
Who will hold Ukraine accountable? What, they’d never cheat or lie?
This could be a trojan horse. Next, you’ll probably hear that the US/UK will hold Russia accountable by sending warships to guard “Ukrainian grain ships.” Only those “Ukrainian grain ships” will be loaded with weapons on their way back home. How can you say no to humanitarian interventions like “Operation Iraqi Freedom” on the road to hell?
Reporting today is that the agreement also allows for export of Russian grain and fertilizer. Same agreement, both sides get to export the same stuff.
I predict the US/Ukraine will cheat on that. Then the Russians will refuse to allow only half of what was agreed.
Iran Deal revisited, we get what we want and you don’t get what we promised for it.
When Turkey & Israel recently armed Azerbaijan against Armenia, the nature of drone warfare & Russia seeking to be the Peace negotiator was established. Turkey has been a candidate for EU membership for decades
See what some talking can get done? Why can’t we do the same?
The United Nations though bullied (as designed by Stalin, FDR, and the British) is still the moderating influence for world conflict – less we forget.
But mostly just another corrupt institution on $1k per diems, to serve as an another apparatus of US imperialism, … along with IMF/World Bank.