Black Sea grain export deal ‘a beacon of hope’ amid Ukraine war

Ukraine and Russia have signed an agreement, under the auspices of the UN, to allow the export of more than 20 million tons of Ukrainian grain so far blocked in Black Sea ports, with the aim of alleviating the growing global food crisis.

The General secretary The United Nations, which traveled to Istanbul for the signing, said the pact is “a beacon of relief, in a world that needs it more than ever.”

“The question has not been what is good for one side or the other. The focus has been on what is most important to the people of our world. And let there be no doubt: this is an agreement for the world”, Antonio Guterres said.

The initiative opens the way for food exports from three key Ukrainian Black Sea ports: Odessa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny. It is expected to export some five million metric tons per month and that this contributes to reducing the high prices in international markets.

Agreement has also been reached to facilitate unhindered access to world markets for food and fertilizers from the Russian Federation.

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