The spokesperson for the United Nations and the secretary-general’s office stated in a briefing that there have been no ship inspections in Istanbul over the past two days under the grain export accord. This update was reported by TASS, the Russian news agency, and reflects ongoing questions about how the agreement is being implemented on the ground.
There is a clear admission of transparency: officials disclosed that no inspections occurred yesterday or today. The statement underscores the daily realities of monitoring procedures and the logistical choreography required to maintain a steady flow of grain shipments amid a complex geopolitical framework.
According to the briefing, delegates from Russia, Ukraine and Turkey are actively engaging at the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul to review and resolve the inspection schedule. The center is described as a focal point where the participating parties discuss and coordinate the practical steps necessary to uphold the terms of the grain corridor so far agreed upon by the involved nations and institutions.
The UN spokesperson added that the halt in inspections stems from a lack of consensus among the parties involved. This friction highlights the fragile balance required to sustain a transshipment route that many countries rely on for staple food imports, and it signals how differences in interpretation or approach can delay operational checks even when a formal process exists on paper.
Earlier, the EU delegation in Russia was cited by RBC as voicing concern about the potential consequences if the grain accord is not extended with Russia. Brussels expressed worry that failure to renew the agreement could have serious, perhaps disastrous, repercussions for global markets and especially for countries dependent on Ukrainian and Russian grain. The message from Brussels appears to be a warning that a breakdown in the talks would disrupt supply chains and raise food security concerns for many states, including those in North America, which monitor the situation closely given their own import needs and agricultural policies.