Ukraine's first grain-carrying ship has reached Turkish waters

International Desk: The Russia-Ukraine war has been going on for six months. The two sides are still fighting. However, after the agreement between the delegations of the two countries on food grains, this is the first time a ship carrying grain has reached Turkey's Bosphorus Strait.

Ukraine's ports were blocked after Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24. However, recently the two countries reached a consensus to resume shipping through the mediation of the United Nations and Turkey.

Officials of Turkey and Ukraine said that on Monday (August 1) local time, the Sierra Leonean flag ship "Razoni" left Odessa for Tripoli port in Lebanon. They also said that some more ships will sail in the next few weeks.

The UN and Turkey have agreed through negotiations that the grain-carrying ship will pass through a safe corridor of sea. The first ship is carrying 26 thousand tons of grain.

Russia is denying that the blockade of the Black Sea has created a food crisis in the whole world. But last month, an agreement was signed between Russia and Ukraine aimed at creating safe grain export opportunities. And the United Nations and Turkey also signed as mediators.

According to the terms of the agreement, Russia will not attack any ship carrying food from Ukraine, but Turkey will ensure that Ukraine can bring weapons on these ships.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelensky said on Tuesday (August 2) that he is waiting for grain exports to return to normal.

The Ukrainian government says another 16 ships with 600,000 tons of food grain are waiting in Odesa and surrounding ports. These food products are expected to be exported to various countries in Africa and the Middle East where there is a crisis.

According to United Nations statistics, Ukraine ranks fourth in the world in terms of grain exports. 42 percent of sunflower oil, 16 percent of corn and 9 percent of wheat are produced in the country. Egypt, Indonesia and Bangladesh are the top three exporters of Ukrainian wheat.

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