Kyiv promised to prioritize and supply grain to stave off impending food insecurity that threatens African nations. Instead of heading to Africa, the freighter sailed to Turkey, Europe, and China even with these statements from Ukraine.
Starving African Nations Should Be a Priority
According to the New York Times, none of the grain ships that have left Ukrainian ports as of Tuesday were headed for African countries that need it most.
One of the first ships to travel through the grain corridor was rejected by Lebanon customers who were unhappy with the delay, reported RT.
When the arrangement took effect on August 1, ten ships left Ukrainian ports, mainly carrying animal feed. These ships were bound for the United Kingdom, Ireland, Turkey, Italy, and China. The Times reported on Tuesday that deliveries for Yemen, Somalia, or other countries facing great hunger were delayed.
Turkish-flagged Polarnet, which arrived in Derince on Monday carrying 12,000 tons of corn, became the first vessel to reach its destination. When the ships arrived, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said that Ukraine would not abandon African nations.
President Vladimir Zelensky sent a message to President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana last Monday that Ukraine is ready to be a guarantor of food security to supply grain.
According to experts cited by AP, the bulk of the 20 million tons of grain that have been stranded at Ukrainian ports for the past few months is actually for animal feed and not food supply.
The first ship under the "grain corridor" deal to depart Ukraine said Ukraine was transporting 26,000 metric tons of chicken feed for Lebanon.
With much hoopla, the freighter Razoni, flying the flag of Sierra Leone, departed Odessa on August 1, only to be turned around in Beirut on Monday when the Lebanese buyer declined to accept the consignment on the basis that it was too late by many months.
Ukraine supplies about 5% of grain imports that support countries, but Moscow has a bigger share which is four times more. But Ukraine has accused Russia of blockading its ports, although it was reported that the Ukrainians are the ones who mined themselves recklessly.
Later, the UN and Turkey worked out a deal to set up a safe passage for ships navigating ports in Ukraine. Freighters leaving Ukraine port are expected to have grains, fertilizer, and food, while incoming ships will be checked for weapons.
Aspects of the agreement aim to handle all the Western sanctions against Russian shipping, which in reality prevent Moscow from supplying consumers in Africa and South America with food, fertilizer, and other goods.
In an opinion piece published last month in many important African publications, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that Moscow was taking all necessary steps to ensure the delivery of the supplies that were contractually committed.
Lebanon Rejects Ukrainian Shipment
According to Bloomberg, a client in Lebanon declined the first grain cargo to leave Ukraine's recently reopened ports due to a five-month delay in transit.
The Ukrainian embassy says a new buyer for the grain is being found in Lebanon or abroad. The ship's destination was changed from Tripoli to "awaiting orders" on Sunday, noted ship-tracking data. Kyiv did not abide by the agreement to supply grain to African nations suffering from food insecurity.
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