Ukraine, Russia agree on grain deal

Istanbul: Ukraine and Russia on Friday agreed on a deal which would allow the former to resume grain export through the Black Sea, media reports said.
BBC reported that the both nations have signed “mirror” deals which will allow Ukraine to resume exports of grain through the Black Sea.
Blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports by Russia has caused a shortage of grain supply globally and raised their prices.
Ukraine had refused to sign a direct deal with Russia.
Ukraine has also warned “provocations” would be met with” an immediate military response,” the report said.
However, Ukrainian Presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak explained that they would instead sign the agreement Turkey and the UN, which have brokered the deal, while Russia signed an identical agreement.
Thus, both nations attended the signing ceremony here, but did not sit at the same table, according to report.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu signed Moscow’s deal while Ukraine’s identical agreement was signed by Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov.
The deal will last for 120 days. A coordination and monitoring centre will be set up in Istanbul, with staffed by UN, Turkish, Russian and Ukrainian officials.
The agreement can also be renewed if both nations agree to it.
Shoigu told media that this might allow “the solutions to start this process in the coming days”.
“I’m talking not only about beginning the export of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports but clearly also work in this direction on the export of agricultural products and fertilisers from Russian ports,” he added.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was quoted by BBC as saying that this was probably the most important thing he had done during his time heading the international body.
“Today, there is a beacon on the Black Sea,” he told the audience gathered in Istanbul.
“A beacon of hope… possibility… and relief in a world that needs it more than ever,” he added.
This deal includes a pledge by Russia not to attack ships carrying grain, or the ports they set sail from, while Ukraine for it’s part has agreed to allow the ships to be inspected, to check they’re not carrying weapons.(UNI)