Amid War, Ukraine And Russia Sign Deal To Relieve Global Food Crisis

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Ukraine and Russia on Friday signed an agreement that aims to free the global food crisis caused by the delivery of blocked black sea seeds, ending for months and sending wheat prices that fall to the last level seen before the Moscow invasion.

The first major agreement between the warring parties since the February invasion to Ukraine had to help alleviate “acute hunger” which according to the United Nations faced 47 million additional people due to war.

The hostility between Moscow and Kyiv spilled into the signing ceremony – Postponed briefly by a dispute about the appearance of the flag around the table and the rejection of Ukraine to place his name on the same document as Russia.

Both sides finally signed a separate but identical agreement before the Secretary General of the UN Antonio Guterres and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the luxurious Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul.

“Today, there is a flare in the Black Sea – Lighthouse of hope, flare is likely, flare relief,” Guterres said shortly before signing.

ERDOGAN – Key players in the negotiations who have good relations with Moscow and Kyiv – said the agreement would “hopefully revive the path to peace”.

But Ukraine entered the ceremony frankly warned that they would carry out “direct military responses” if Russia violated the agreement and attacked her ship or carry out attacks around the port.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky then said the responsibility to uphold an agreement would fall to the United Nations, which together with Turkey is a co-guarantee of agreement.

20 million tons of wheat

The agreement includes points -Points about running Ukraine wheat boats along a safe corridor that avoids the mines known in the Black Sea.

A large number of wheats and other seeds have been blocked in Ukraine ports by Russian warships and land mines that are placed by Kyiv to avoid feared amphibian attacks.

Zelensky said that around 20 million tons of products from last year’s harvest and plants will currently be exported based on the agreement, estimating the value of the Ukrainian seed stock around $ 10 billion.

After the agreement, the price of wheat fell to the last level was seen before the Russian invasion – even when some analysts declare skeptical about the agreement.

In Chicago, the price of wheat for shipping in September dropped 5.9 percent to $ 7.59 per bushel, equivalent to about 27 kilograms. Prices in Europe down by the same amount.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told the Kremlin state media after attending the signing ceremony that he hoped that the agreement began to work “in the next few days”.

He showed that Russia had managed to get a separate promise from Washington and Brussels to lift all restrictions on their own seeds and other agricultural exports.

The United States and European countries praised the agreement while urged Moscow to comply with its rules.

A US official said the agreement was “well structured” enough to monitor Russian compliance.

The European Union called for the “Quick Implementation” of the agreement while British Foreign Minister Liz Truss said London “would oversee to ensure Russia’s actions were in accordance with his words”.

Guarded hope

Diplomat expects seeds only begin to flow entirely in mid-August.

The four parties must first arrange the center of order and joint control in Istanbul which monitors the ship and overcome the dispute.

They have not finished how the ship will be examined for weapons before returning empty to the Port of Ukraine.

Ukraine farmers who have witnessed their silo are filled with seeds they cannot sell meet with Istanbul’s agreement in the hope that is guarded.

“This gives hope but you do not believe what Russia said,” said Mykola Zaverukha farmers.

The silk has been filled with 13,000 tons of seeds and in the danger of overflowing because this year’s harvest began to enter.

“Russia cannot be relied upon, they have shown themselves year after year,” he told AFP in the South Mykolaiv region.

Global alarm about the seeds is accompanied by European concerns that Russia begins to use its grip on energy exports as geopolitical weapons in its disputes with the West.

The grain agreement was signed one day after restarting Russia from Nord Stream Natural Gas Pipes to relieve concerns in Europe because it was turned off permanently after the holding of 10 days of maintenance.

Analysts say that the start of some gas supply is not enough to ward off energy shortages in Europe this winter.

More US military aid

The Dolmabahce Palace Decoration Hall Istanbul was far from the East Ukraine Donbas War Zone on another day of unrelenting shooting at the front.

Russia is trying to fight deeper into the Donetsk region of the war zone after securing full control of neighboring Lugansk.

On Friday, the United States signed $ 270 million in other military assistance to Ukraine, including rocket systems, artillery ammunition, and armored command posts.

The Presidential Ukraine said five people were killed and 10 others were injured in Russian attacks around the Donetsk region the previous day.

In the village of Donetsk Chasiv Yar-the strike on July 10, killing more than 45-Lyudmila, who was 64 years old, collected apricots near the ruins.

“There is no more. Officials have gone. We must fight to keep us alive,” he said, only giving his first name.

Military toll roads on both sides have remained speculative since Russia stormed on February 24.

The heads of US and Britain believed that Russian President Vladimir Putin suffered a greater loss than expected.

Ukraine war efforts have been greatly assisted in the last few weeks with sending US high precision weapons that allow Kyiv to destroy Russian weapons silos in a distance.