There is a shortage of wheat in the world and prices are rising. Russia and Ukraine produce well over a quarter of all wheat for export on the world market. 80 percent of Ukrainian exports go via ports in the Black Sea, including Odesa. Now the waters outside the ports are mined, and Russian warships control most of the Black Sea. Last week, the leader of the African Union, Mackey Sall, told President Putin that African countries are very afraid of food shortages as a result of the war in Ukraine. The leader of the African Union, Mackey Sall, visited Russia’s president in Moscow on June 3. Sall is also president of Senegal. Photo: Mikhail Klimentyev / AP Wheat is politics, and Putin failed to promise anything. But Russia exports more wheat than Ukraine and is also interested in safe transport from the Black Sea. But the government-run Russian newspaper Izvestia writes today that the leadership in Russia agrees with both Turkey and Ukraine on a way to export the wheat. Neither Ukraine nor Turkey have commented on the content of the article. Mine sweeping and warships In short, Turkey will ensure that the waters outside the port of Odesa are cleared of mines. Turkish ships will then accompany Ukrainian ships loaded with wheat into “neutral waters”. The exact coordinates must be agreed by the countries in advance. Then comes the point that it will be sensational if Ukraine has said yes. Russian warships will accompany the ships with wheat on to the Turkish-controlled Bosphorus Strait. The ships have to go through there to get out into the Mediterranean and to the markets in North Africa and the Middle East. According to Izvestia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will discuss the agreement with his Turkish counterparts when they meet in Ankara on Wednesday. Avisa also writes that a representative of the UN will attend the meeting on grain exports. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the idea is to establish a command center for the “grain corridor” in Istanbul. Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the UN may be represented. A ship from the Russian Navy patrols the sea area outside the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which is now controlled by Russian forces. Picture from May 30. Photo: AP The news agency Reuters also reported on May 26 that talks were underway between Russia, Ukraine and Turkey about a corridor for grain exports. Western countries will also send escort ships But Russia has competitors for the job of escorting Ukrainian grain ships. On May 24, Lithuania’s foreign minister, Grabielius Landsbergiis, proposed that a “coalition of willing” countries send warships and planes to Odesa to accompany the ships past the Russian navy to the Bosphorus. The proposal was presented during an official visit to the United Kingdom. The British Foreign Secretary, Liz Tuss, said she supported such a coalition in principle. The Russians responded immediately. Such a coalition “will lead to a serious escalation of the situation in the Black Sea,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko. Turkey has also closed the Bosphorus to all transit of warships from Ukraine and Russia. The country has also warned all other countries against sailing through the strait with warships. The logic is that warships from NATO countries through the Bosphorus will now endanger Turkey’s security. It is Turkey that enforces the so-called Montreux Convention on the Straits from 1936. Activists from the group The Hungarian Revolution demonstrate in Kenya on 17 May. Food prices have exploded since the war in Ukraine began in February, but price increases started even before that. Photo: TONY KARUMBA / AFP Ukraine: – Russia steals wheat The day after tomorrow, Russia’s foreign minister will come to Turkey, among other things to discuss the “grain corridor”. At present, there is little indication that Ukraine and Russia will agree. On Saturday, the Ukrainian ambassador to Turkey accused Russia of theft. – Russia shamelessly steals Ukrainian grain and sends it abroad from Crimea, including to Turkey, said Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar according to the news agency AP. He claims that at least 10 Russian ships with Ukrainian grain have passed the Bosphorus in May alone. Turkey is not allowed to board commercial ships to check cargo. A satellite image shows the loading of grain on board a Russian cargo ship in Sevastopol. Ukrainians suspect that stolen Ukrainian grain. Photo from 19 May. Photo: MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES / Reuters Satellite images taken by the private American company Maxar in May show the loading of wheat on board Russian ships in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol. Crimea has had problems with water shortages for several years, and little wheat is produced there. According to CNN, however, Russian soldiers have emptied Ukrainian wheat warehouses north of the annexed peninsula.
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Russia will accompany Ukrainian grain ships to the Bosphorus – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
