New York Times: Grain deal includes only partial cleanup of Ukrainian ports

WASHINGTON, July 22 – RIA Novosti. The agreement on the export of grain from Ukraine includes the partial cleaning of the ports of this country, while the captains of the Ukrainian fleet and coast guard will take ships carrying grain into international waters, author On Thursday, the New York Times cited people familiar with the matter.

The Turkish presidential administration previously told RIA Novosti that the document on the grain issue will be signed on Friday at 16.30 in Istanbul, with Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary-General António Guterres attending the ceremony.

According to the newspaper’s interlocutors, the Ukrainian side agreed to “partially” carry out the mine clearance. At the same time, according to the agreement reached, the captains of the Ukrainian fleet or the coast guard will take ships carrying grain into international waters, where foreign crews will take control of the ships. The latter will have to bring the ships to Istanbul before continuing their route.

Also, according to the agreement, a center will be established in Istanbul to monitor these operations, and the Turkish side undertakes to check the ships to see if weapons are being sent to Ukrainian ports.

The UN has repeatedly voiced the threat of a food crisis due to grain shortages, accused Western Russia of blocking the supply of Ukrainian grain to world markets, Moscow categorically denied such accusations. At the same time, the Kyiv authorities themselves created many obstacles to the export of grain for export: in addition to the grain arson that arose in the port of Mariupol, Ukrainian troops mined the Black Sea, which did not allow grain to be transported around the world. markets with ships. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia does not prevent grain exports from Ukraine, that ships carrying grain can leave without any problems if Kiev clears the ports of mines.