Yesterday, the delegation of the Ministry of Infrastructure together with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, ambassadors of the G7, Turkey, and representatives of the UN inspected the process of loading the first ships within the framework of the ‘grain initiative’ signed in Istanbul.
In particular, 17 vessels have already been loaded in the ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk, of which 10 are ready to depart.
“For the first time since February 24, work has been resumed in the sea ports of Ukraine. The ships, which were loaded with grain during the winter, are ready to leave as soon as our partners, the UN and Turkey agree on a “green corridor” in the direction of the Bosphorus Strait.
As President Volodymyr Zelenskyi emphasized, Ukraine had done everything it could take to start exporting grain as soon as possible. Ukraine remains the guarantor of global food security.
“I express gratitude to the ambassadors of the G7, the European Delegation, Turkey and the UN for their joint work, which, I hope, will bring the first practical results in the coming days. Your presence today in Odesa gives hope to Ukrainian farmers, porters and the entire maritime industry,” commented the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov.
Exports of grain will begin with sending of several ships that have been loaded but have been unable to leave port due to the onset of a full-scale russian invasion.
In addition, as part of the visit, the Minister held a meeting with the Maritime Administration of Ukraine. The focus is on further steps in the development of port infrastructure and the expansion of cargo handling of the Danube port cluster.
It will be recalled that on July 22 in Istanbul, at the proposal of the United Nations, Ukraine, Turkey and UN Secretary-General António Guterres signed the Initiative on the safe transportation of grain and food products from the Ukrainian ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdenny.