Picture: Collected
Turkey and the United Nations had been mediating between
Russia and Ukraine for some time on the deal as global concerns over food grew.
An agreement was finally reached in Istanbul, Turkey on Friday (July 22, 2022)
signed by the United Nations and Turkey, in addition to Russia and Ukraine.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu signed the agreement on
behalf of Russia in Istanbul. Ukraine's delegation was led by Oleksandr
Kubrakov, Minister of Infrastructure.
Under the deal, Russia will relax its blockade of the Black
Sea to allow food exports by ship from Ukraine. Turkey says that this agreement
will facilitate the export of food not only to Ukraine, but also to Russia
through the Black Sea.
Five months after the start of the war, Russia imposed a
naval blockade in the Black Sea off the coast of Ukraine, cutting off Ukrainian
exports.
A lot of food grains are lying in warehouses across Ukraine
for months for export. About two million tons of food grains are now stored in
warehouses in Odessa port on the Black Sea coast.
They are now expected to be exported to food-scarce
countries in Africa and the Middle East.
But the level of mistrust between Russia and Ukraine has
left observers concerned about how well the deal will ultimately work and how
long it will last.
The BBC's diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams says the
agreement on paper is great news for everyone. After five months, Ukraine is
getting the opportunity to export food. As a result, countries that depend on
Ukraine's wheat and oilseeds will survive to some extent.
Soon after the confirmation that the agreement was going to
be reached, the price of wheat in the world market fell quite a bit. Russia
will also have some difficulties in exporting its own food. More importantly,
Russia will have an opportunity to refute allegations that food is being used
as a weapon by Russia and is causing famine in many countries.
But Paul Adams says there are risks the deal could collapse
at any time.
First, Ukraine has mined large areas off the coast of the
Black Sea to prevent Russia from massing troops by sea. They now have to ensure
mine-free 'safe passage' at sea for sheep to dock.
Ukraine fears that if it does, the Russian army may take
advantage of it in the future.
In a statement Thursday night, Ukraine's foreign ministry
said it would sign the deal only if it guarantees the security of southern
Ukraine and the continued "strong military position" of the Ukrainian
army in the Black Sea.
There is also doubt as to how interested shipping companies
will be in going to Ukrainian ports. Because, if there is an explosion on one
of the ships in the sea, this agreement will be broken. After that, no ships
will approach the shore.
|Source: Online/SZK
Comment Now