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It is the first grain cargo ship to reach Turkish shores since the Ukrainian war. After an inspection, the ship will continue to Lebanon.


The first cargo ship loaded with Ukrainian grain since the start of Russia’s war of aggression has arrived in Turkey for inspection. The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced on Twitter on Tuesday that the cargo ship “Razoni” had passed through Istanbul with approximately 26 thousand tons of corn from Ukraine, reached the Bosphorus at the Black Sea entrance and anchored at the designated point.

Representatives of Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations should therefore board and inspect the ship on Wednesday morning. This is to ensure, among other things, that no weapons are loaded. The cargo ship will then cross the Bosphorus. The ship, flying the flag of the West African province of Sierra Leone, is on its way to Lebanon.

Grain deal enabled export

The freighter became the first vessel to leave the Ukrainian port of Odessa on Monday as part of the grain deal signed between Ukraine and Russia. The 186-metre-long ship first had to be safely diverted through mined waters near the Ukrainian coast via a special sea corridor.

Opponents of the war Ukraine and Russia signed a separate agreement with Turkey on July 22, under the mediation of the United Nations, to allow grain exports from Ukraine from three ports in Istanbul. The EU and NATO urged Russia to “fully implement” the grain agreement.

The Foreign Ministry in Berlin also said it is now particularly important that more ships leave the port. Work continues at “high pressure” to create alternative transport routes for grain. According to Kiev, at least 16 more grain vessels are waiting to leave the port of Odessa.

Coordination center monitors cargo ships

The grain export coordination center envisaged in the agreement was opened in Istanbul last Wednesday. There, representatives of Ukraine and Russia, as well as Turkey and the UN, will jointly monitor the safe passage of Ukrainian cargo ships on designated routes. In addition, the ships will be inspected in Istanbul on arrival and departure to prevent secret arms shipments.

As a result of the war, up to 25 million tons of grain were blocked in Ukrainian ports. Ukraine and Russia are among the world’s largest grain producers. Billions of dollars are at stake for the country. Before the war began, both countries together supplied about 30 percent of the wheat traded worldwide. The export blockade especially hits poor countries that are heavily dependent on imports from Russia and Ukraine.

You can find the latest news about the Russian attack on Ukraine anytime on our live blog:

Source: ZDF

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