Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced on Wednesday the resumption of Ukrainian grain exports through the UN-brokered humanitarian naval corridor in the Black Sea.
Russia had previously withdrawn from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, alleging that Ukraine had used the corridor to attack the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, a claim the UN rejected.
Despite Russia's formal withdrawal from the deal, ships continued to pass along the corridor. Since Monday, 15 ships carrying vital grain and foodstuffs have left Ukrainian ports.
Following a meeting between Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Turkish leader confirmed Russia’s resumed participation in the grain deal, which provides much of the developing world with critical supplies of affordable grain. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) had previously expressed concern that a renewed naval blockade would risk plunging much of East Africa into famine.
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Shortly afterwards, Russian authorities announced that they would resume their participation in the deal after receiving “written guarantees” from Ukraine about the demilitarisation of the corridor.
“Russia considers that the guarantees received so far to be sufficient and is resuming the agreement,” the Russian Defence Ministry wrote on Telegram.
According to data published by the Black Sea Grain Initiative Joint Coordination Centre, nearly 10 million tonnes of corn, wheat, rapeseed, sunflower meal, and other agricultural goods have left Ukrainian ports as part of the agreement. Many of these deliveries help support developing economies across the world.
