Turkey: Exporting Grain from Ukraine to Start Tomorrow

Export of grain from Ukraine may start tomorrow, August 1, Ibrahim Kalin, spokesman of the President of Turkey, stated on Sunday.

"The first ship with grain may leave the port of Ukraine on Monday morning," he said as quoted by the NTV channel, noting that the loading of the ships has been completed.

"There are one or two small issues left, if they are resolved before the evening, there is a possibility of going [to the sea] tomorrow morning," Kalin added.

The first caravan with Ukrainian grain will consist of 16 dry cargo ships, according to the CNN Turk TV channel. They will reach Turkish territorial waters on August 3.

A week ago, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy affirmed that the grain deal with Russia fully meets Ukraine’s interests. “The text of the document signed today is published, and everyone can read its points. They fully meet the interests of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said in an address to the nation.

Under the agreement, Ukraine will export 20 million tons of last year’s grain harvest and part of this year’s harvest, providing a chance to reduce the severity of the global food crisis.

Zelenskyy pointed out that the signing of the deal is another illustration that Ukraine can withstand the conflict with Russia, stressing confidence in the United Nations’ control over the implementation of the contract.

In the same vein, Ukraine announced that Russia would not accompany ships in the Black Sea ports under the new grain deal signed on July 22.

Media outlets reported that the agreement would enable Ukraine to resume shipping grain from the Black Sea to international markets. Moreover, Russia will begin exporting grain and fertilizers, ending global food security.