The first ship carrying grain departed from Ukrainian port on Monday for the first time since Russia’s invasion, headed towards Lebanon, after an agreement, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, was reached in July between Kyiv and Moscow allowing for the resumption of the product’s exportation.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu highlighted the importance of the deal, saying it could lead to “lasting peace” in the region, during a joint press conference with his Malaysian counterpart Saifuddin Abdullah in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
“We think that the grain agreement can form the basis of a comprehensive ceasefire… Turkey has been making intense efforts since the beginning of the war under the leadership of our President. We will continue our efforts in this regard,” said Cavusoglu, whose country will monitor exports of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea per the agreement.
The Turkish diplomat stated that the deal had to be “sustainable,” and that both sides had to act responsibly and honor their commitments.
The duration of the deal is four months, but it will be automatically extended if there are no objections, he added.
The first grain shipment of 26,000 tons of corn arrived in Turkish waters for inspection on Wednesday.
Russia launched an invasion in Ukraine in February, leading to a global incline in food, oil, and petrol prices as exports from the neighboring countries diminished due to the war.
The resumption of the exportation of Ukrainian grain is widely welcomed in the world and this move has been viewed as helping alleviate the global food crisis that plagued the world since the conflict between the two neighboring countries began.
