First grain ship leaves Ukraine 

The first ship carrying grain left Ukraine for foreign markets under a safe passage agreement with Russia.

Ukrainian and Turkish officials say the ship left the southern port of Odesa early on Monday morning.

“The first grain ship since #RussianAggression has left port. Thanks to the support of all our partner countries & @UN we were able to fully implement the Agreement signed in Istanbul,” Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Twitter.

The Turkish defense minister said the Sierra Leone-flagged ship Razon, which is loaded with corn, would dock in Lebanon. He added that more shipments would follow in the coming weeks.

Russia has been blockading Ukrainian ports since February.

The sailing was made possible after Turkey and the United Nations brokered a grain-and-fertilizer export agreement between Russia and Ukraine last month.

Also read: Ukraine, Russia to sign deal on grain export

The deal, which took two months to reach, is set to last for 120 days. It can be renewed if both parties agree.

It aims to allow safe passage for grain shipments in and out of Chornomorsk, Odesa, and the port of Pivdennyi.

The Joint Co-ordination Centre, set up in Istanbul under the deal, said the ship was carrying some 26,000 tonnes of corn and was expected to arrive in Turkish waters for inspection on Tuesday.

“Today Ukraine, together with partners, takes another step to prevent world hunger,” 

“Unlocking ports will provide at least $1 billion in foreign exchange revenue to the economy and an opportunity for the agricultural sector to plan for next year.” Ukraine’s Infrastructure Minister Alexander Kubrakov wrote on Facebook.

Mr. Kubrakov added that 16 other ships were waiting to depart in the ports of the Odesa Region in the coming weeks.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the departure of the ship and hailed Turkey for its role in working to implement the agreement.

The blockade of Ukraine’s grain has contributed to a global food crisis with wheat-based products like bread and pasta becoming more expensive and cooking oils and fertilizer also increasing in price.

Russia and Ukraine jointly account for nearly a third of global wheat supplies. In 2019 Ukraine accounted for 16% of the world’s corn supplies and 42% of sunflower oil, according to UN data.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called the shipment a “relief for the world” and urged Moscow to “respect its part of the deal”.

Zainab Sa’id