Approximately 27 ships carrying grain have departed Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea since the beginning of August as a result of an export arrangement mediated by the United Nations and Turkey, which "laid the groundwork for a permanent peace environment" according to a high-ranking Turkish official.
At Istanbul's Joint Coordination Center (JCC), Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar stated that "a total of 53 vessels have sailed for grain shipments, of which 27 have departed from Ukrainian ports" since August 1.
Ukrainian grain and fertilizer shipments toward the Black Sea are supervised by a center made up of Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish, and UN personnel, according to CNN.
More than 650,000 metric tons of grain and other food have already left the port of Chornomorsk, Ukraine, according to Guterres, who had earlier inspected the ship SSI Invincible II before it sailed there on Saturday.
Both officials stressed the importance of these exports. Akar noted that the measure would help overcome "the food crisis affecting the whole world, especially to lowering prices."
Guterres added: "We are at the beginning of a much longer process, but you have already shown the potential of this critical agreement for the world."
The historic deal, mediated by the UN and Turkey and signed by Russian and Ukrainian officials in July, promised to open Black Sea ports to allow the secured transit of grain and oilseeds, using routes delineated by Ukrainian maritime pilots to avoid mines and stopping in Istanbul to prevent the smuggling of weapons back into the country.
Ukraine, A Dependable Partner in Grain Deal
As a supply of Ukraine grain landed in the southern Irish port of Foynes, per Al Jazeera, Ukraine's envoy to Ireland claimed that her nation had shown itself as a dependable partner under an UN-backed agreement for grain exports.
After departing southern Ukraine's largest port of Odesa two weeks ago, the Panama-flagged Navi Star carrying 33,000 tonnes of grain, arrived in Ireland. The shipment was one of the first to leave the war-torn country under a landmark deal struck with Russia and brokered by Turkey and the UN.
Russian Agriculture Exports Must Reach World Markets To Avoid World Food Crisis
UN Secretary-General Guterres also underscored that Russian fertilizers and agricultural products must reach world markets "unimpeded" or a global food crisis could happen next year.
The UN chief said: "It is important that all governments and the private sector cooperate to bring them to market."
The deal also grants Russia the freedom to export its fertilizers and agricultural goods despite Western sanctions, as per a report from NDTV.
"What we see here in Istanbul and Odessa is only the more visible part of the solution. The other part of this package deal is the unimpeded access to the global markets of Russian food and fertilizer, which are not subject to sanctions," Guterres remarked.
He added that despite the measure, Russian fertilizer and agricultural exports still faced "obstacles." and warned that "Without fertilizer in 2022, there may not be enough food in 2023."
"Getting more food and fertilizer out of Ukraine and Russia is crucial to further calm commodity markets and lower prices for consumers," Gutteres said.
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