G7 Ambassadors visit Odessa port, reiterate importance of grain corridor agreement

Ambassors of Group of Seven (G7) countries visited port of Odessa on Friday and stressed importance of implementing recently signed grain corridor agreement by Russia and Ukraine. Taking to Twitter, British Ambassor to Ukraine, Melinda Simmons stated that she along with G7 and Turkey's diplomat visited Odessa to reiterate importance of United Nations-brokered deal to allow resumption of Ukrainian food exports. She also asked Russia to respect deal which was signed by two warring countries on July 22 in Istanbul.  

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Putin also visited Black Sea ports on Friday to take a stock of ships being loed with grains to be exported to foreign markets. His visit to Ukrainian ports comes as workers were seen constructing terminals for grain exports, on which millions of destitute people rely globally. Zelenskyy stated that export of grain will start soon with departure of ships that were halted since onset of war. 

Ukraine intends to export nearly 20 million tonnes of grains

"Our side is fully prepared. We sent all signals to our partners, UN and Turkey. Our military guarantees security situation and it is important for us that Ukraine remains guarantor of global food security," embattled President noted, as per Associated Press (AP). According to reports, visits to ports are a part of a larger effort by Ukraine to demonstrate to world that y are almost rey to resume exporting millions of tonnes of grains, after historic agreement.  Ukrainian government intends to export nearly 20 million tonnes of grains from Black Sea ports over next four months.

Russia-Ukraine grain corridor agreement

It is pertinent to mention here that Ukraine and Russia signed separate grain export deals with United Nations and Turkey, paving way for shipment of millions of tonnes of urgently required Ukrainian grain. deal would enable Ukraine to resume shipping grain from Black Sea to international markets. In dition, Russia would also begin exporting grain and fertilizers, ending a dispute that h jeopardised global food security.

Image: Twitter/@MelSimmonsFCDO