If Ukraine ceases to approach ships, Russia will ensure safe passage of Ukrainian ships with grain. Moscow expressed this after being informed of the roadmap of the “grain corridor” developed by Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya.
“As for the Ukrainians, let them clear their port first. We are ready to provide a safe passage, but first they need to clear the mines – these are their mines, not ours,” quotes RIA Novosti Nebenzya.
As a result of Turkey’s meetings with Russia, Ukraine and UN representatives, a roadmap was developed for the “grain corridor” study. Anadolu, this is expected to prevent the global food crisis caused by Russia’s special operation in Ukraine.
Diplomatic sources of the publication said that Turkish authorities are in active contact with partners to establish a mechanism for the safe delivery of grain. In Istanbul, it is planned to create a center for the export of products, which will regulate the nuances of interaction between the Russian Federation and Ukraine on this issue. The approximate volume of transported grain is 20 million tons.
In the near future, a meeting of all parties may be held in Istanbul to discuss the details of the roadmap. During the talks, topics such as route, insurance and ship safety will be discussed. The Parties shall attach particular importance to the investigation of the issue of demining ports.
It is assumed that the Black Sea water area will be neutralized and grain reserves will reach foreign markets safely.
The “grain aisle” became the main topic in phone conversations between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Zelensky. According to Erdogan, both sides responded positively to Ankara’s initiative.
At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine requests from Moscow a guarantee of security for the ports and commercial convoys that will take part in the export of grain. This was stated by the press secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleg Nikolenko.
According to him, Russia should “withdraw its forces in the maritime zone around Ukraine” as a first step.
Nikolenko said that the Kyiv authorities are working with partners, in particular, under the auspices of the UN, on the creation of an international mission that will ensure the operation of sea routes for the export of Ukrainian agricultural products.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov promised that if Kiev solves the problem of cleaning the ports, the Russian Navy will provide unhindered passage for vessels with Ukrainian grain.
At the end of May, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said that the UN offered to establish a four-way contact group to discuss grain exports from Ukraine. Çavuşoğlu listed the mined coasts of the Odessa region and the sanctions that prohibit the insurance of Russian ships and service in foreign ports among the main obstacles to the export of goods.
Ukraine does not want Russian warships to stop at the ports of Odessa. Russia also does not want the ships that will carry cargo in this corridor to deliver weapons to Ukraine. How can they be sure of all this? There should be a verification mechanism,” the minister said.
Lavrov sees the same problems. According to him, the main problem is that the coastal areas are mined. For this reason, Russia has to “declare humanitarian corridors for the free exit of ships that are locked in Ukrainian ports but cannot leave due to the mine threat, and deliver the relevant goods and cargo to the ports of destination”.
At the same time, as the head of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted, Russia does not have any problems with the supply of grain to the world market.
Meanwhile, the United States is considering grain export routes. This was announced by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on June 1.
“We are dealing with a global challenge and even a food shortage crisis,” he said. According to him, the situation was influenced by several factors, including the situation in Ukraine: “As a result, the prices of affordable food products increased.”
According to him, about 20-25 million tons of grain are in elevators near Ukrainian ports. Blinken is confident that there is a “Russian blockade” that prevented 85 “grain-filled” ships from safely leaving the port of Odessa.