Grain-filled ships left Ukraine on Tuesday (local time), despite Russia’s suspension of its participation in a UN-mediated agreement that guarantees the safe transit of essential food supplies during times of war.
But after the United Nations announced that vessels would not leave on Wednesday, future shipments were in doubt (local time).
Three ships carrying 84,490 metric tons of corn, wheat and sunflower meal left through a humanitarian sea corridor set up in July, the UN said.
The corridor, negotiated by Turkey and the UN, was hailed as a breakthrough that would guarantee that throughout Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, areas of the world suffering from starvation would receive grain and other goods from the Black Sea region.
Russia said over the weekend that it was halting its involvement in the grain sale, citing claims of a Ukrainian drone strike against its Black Sea fleet.
Ship travel out of ports in southern Ukraine has been stopped, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, which described the action as “unacceptable.”
However, 14 ships altogether sailed on that day, one of which was chartered by the UN World Food Program to transport wheat to Ethiopia, which, along with Kenya and Somalia’s neighbours, is severely suffering from the worst drought in decades.
The UN has issued a famine alert for portions of Somalia. Thousands of people have died there.
Although ships left this week, the initiative’s future was uncertain when the UN announced it. On Wednesday, Ukraine and Turkey agreed that no ships would depart in accordance with the agreement (local time).
The UN stated that the inspections and crossings were “a temporary and extraordinary step” despite the fact that the three parties had carried out the necessary checks without Russia.
Russia’s withdrawal from the celebrated grain agreement has drawn outcry from Ukraine, the US and other allies, with Ukraine accusing Russia of creating a world “hunger games”.
According to Munro Anderson, head of intelligence at the risk consultancy Dryad Global, the UN operation gave priority to a considerable backlog of ships waiting for checks off Istanbul.
“It is likely that Russia will use this as a tool of negotiation to secure what it needs from the contract,” Anderson said after Russia’s participation was suspended.
“We are aware that Russia has been attempting to export fertiliser products and has asked for a lifting of sanctions so it can do so successfully.
” While Western sanctions on Russia don’t affect its grain exports and a parallel wartime deal was meant to clear the way for Moscow’s food and fertiliser shipments, some businesses have been wary of running afoul of sanctions.
During a phone chat with the president of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Russian President Vladimir Putin brought up the fertiliser issue and said that Russia’s agricultural exports were still being restricted.
According to a Kremlin readout of the discussion, Putin also stated that renewing the grain agreement would need a probe into the attack on Russia’s Black Sea fleet.
According to the Turkish president’s office, Erdogan informed Putin that if they “address the grain situation through a constructive approach, they will (also) promote moves toward a return to dialogue” to end the war in Ukraine.
According to analysts, Russia is still obligated to abide by the conditions of the agreement it signed, which include a promise not to attack the agreement’s participating civilian vessels. International law would also be broken by such an attack.
“It is nonetheless a signatory to that agreement even though it is not actively taking part in it. Attacking international warships and organisations will not benefit Russia’s interests in any way, shape, or form “said Anderson.
He continued by saying that Russia’s main worry is probably that vessels might be leaving without being verified and could be used to import weapons. As part of the July deal, Turkey, the UN, and the warring parties created a Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul.
Although more information was not immediately available, Russia has stated that it intends to carry out its own inspections of ships that have already passed the joint inspections in Istanbul.
Ships leave after Russia cancels grain agreement, but future is uncertain
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