Ukraine and Russia are close to agreeing a deal to secure the safe passage of millions of tonnes of grain through the Black Sea but remain at odds over how to ensure the security of the ports and ships along the crucial export route, according to people familiar with the UN-led negotiations, APA reports citing Financial Times.
The four-party agreement, which is also being mediated by Turkiye, would end a months-long Russian blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports that has cut off the export route for one of the world’s leading grain producers and threatened a global food crisis.
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to monitor ships en route to and from ports including Odesa at two control centres — one in Istanbul and a second on the Black Sea — where the ships will be inspected.
Russia has also given some assurances it will not launch strikes on cargo ships that would collect the 22mn tonnes of wheat, corn and other products, according to officials and diplomats briefed on the talks.
But Ukraine is not fully convinced by the offer of safe passage and is also demanding a commitment ensuring Russia will not attack its ports.
Ukrainian officials have suggested the outlines of a deal could be agreed in the next few days, according to EU sources who spoke to the Financial Times. But the lack of agreement on key issues means it could be as long as three weeks before shipments resume, according to people briefed on the talks.
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