Russia and Ukraine Sign Agreement on Grain Exports
Sitting at separate tables last Friday, officials from Russia and Ukraine signed a United Nations-backed deal to resume grain exports via the Black Sea. It is important to note that the agreement does not include a ceasefire.
The agreement, signed in Istanbul and brokered by the Turkish government, is great news for countries struggling with food shortages and represents the first major act of cooperation between Russia and Ukraine following the invasion in February. Over the coming weeks, the deal will see the delivery of millions of tons of wheat that had been stuck in Ukraine due to the conflict with Moscow.
Russia will also resume suspended grain exports as part of the deal.
The abrupt cessation in grain exports from both countries had sparked price increases and concerns of famine in recent months (read more on that here) and the new agreement – if upheld – is expected to aid billions of people.
In signing the agreement, Moscow has promised to facilitate the unimpeded export of food, sunflower oil, and fertilizers. What this means is that Russian vessels that had previously blocked grain from leaving Ukrainian ports located on the Black Sea will now be escorting enemy vessels through mined waters. Turkish officials will be on site to inspect the shipments for weapons smuggling.
“We are proud to be instrumental in an initiative that will play a major role in solving global food crisis that has been on the agenda for a long time,” said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was present at the signing ceremony in Istanbul.
Many fear Russia will fail to uphold its end of the deal, however, following an attack on Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa that occurred shortly after the deal was signed.
“It took less than 24 hours for Russia to launch a missile attack on Odesa’s part, breaking its promises and undermining its commitments before the UN and Turkey under the Istanbul agreement,” argues Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Oleg Nikolenko. “In case of non-fulfillment, Russia will bear full responsibility for a global food crisis.”
Source:
Russia and Ukraine sign UN-backed deal to resume grain exports via the Black Sea
Every nation in the world should be able to grow sufficient food for their population. According to studies, there are 34 countries that cannot produce sufficient food, and the great majority of those countries are in Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa has millions of hectares of farmable land, and yet 25% of the people in the region are malnourished. A look at the reasons shows that corrupt governments and extreme poverty are the main causes of the problem, not lack of farmlands. Perhaps the United Nations should step in and remove these corrupt leaders and put in governments that can feed and care for their own.
And it’s coming to America People have better start prepping
Poor title – Russia and Ukraine did not sign agreements with each other. They both signed agreements with a third party (and for which Russia promptly showed bad faith by shelling the harbor within 24 hours). For all the support the Russians get from Fox News and Fucker Carlson (and a large share of the Republican Party), I wouldn’t put much trust in them… They’ll probably hijack the first ship that they “escort”, and then the agreement is worthless anyway.