On Monday, October 31, the third day after Russia's statement on withdrawing from the grain agreement, 12 ships with grain left Ukrainian ports.
"Today, 12 ships with 354,5 thousand tons of agricultural products left the ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdenny for the countries of Africa, Asia, and Europe. Among them is the IKARIA ANGEL bulker with Ukrainian wheat for Ethiopia, which is on the brink of famine. This is the seventh ship chartered within the framework of the World Food Program under the auspices of the United Nations", the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine reported.
The mediators of the grain agreement — Turkey and the UN — hope for its continuation and have planned negotiations with Moscow. The Kremlin has warned that without its consent, exports will become "risky, dangerous and unguaranteed", but it is in no hurry to slam the door just yet.
We will remind you that until mid-summer, the Russian fleet blocked Ukrainian ports. About 20 million tons of grain were locked up, prices on the world market rose, and poor countries faced the threat of food shortages. Through the mediation of the UN, the blockade was lifted, and since August 1, Ukraine has exported more than 9 million tons of grain.
However, since that time, the situation at the front is not in favor of the aggressor, and Russia suffers one failure after another. In response, Putin ordered the bombing of civilian critical infrastructure, primarily power plants, and on October 29 he abandoned the grain agreement.
However, on Monday, another 12 dry cargoes with 355 tons of grain left Ukrainian ports. According to the terms of the grain agreement, all dry cargo ships are inspected at a raid in Istanbul. On Monday, it was conducted only by representatives of the UN and Turkey, while they were usually joined by inspectors from Russia and Ukraine.
Turkish President Recep Erdogan said he would continue to fulfill his part of the deal.
"With joint efforts, we mitigated the world food crisis," he said on Monday. "And even if Russia now behaves indecisively, because the agreement did not bring it the same benefit, we will continue to make decisive efforts for the benefit of all humanity."
In turn, Putin's press secretary Peskov, in response to questions from Russian agencies regarding the possibility of continuing to export grain from Ukraine without Russia's participation, answered: "In the conditions when Russia talks about the impossibility of guaranteeing the safety of shipping in the specified areas, such an agreement is unlikely to be implemented, and it takes on a different character: much more risky, dangerous and unguaranteed."
And when asked whether the grain agreement has been finalized, he said: "Contacts with the Turkish side and the UN continue through diplomatic and other agencies."
In turn, the European Commission said that Russia should return to the agreement and provide maritime humanitarian corridors for the supply of food to the world. Russia's withdrawal from the agreement threatens the main export route of grain and fertilizer, which are so necessary to fight the food crisis caused by Russia's war against Ukraine.
The EU promised to continue expanding the river, rail and road routes of exports from Ukraine. Since May, at least 14 million tons of agricultural products have been delivered to them, the European Commission reported.
