Turkey announces first ship full of grain to leave Ukrainian port: NPR

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, a Turkish Polarnet freighter loads Ukrainian grain at a port in the Odessa region, Ukraine, Friday, July 29, 2022.

PA

hide caption

toggle caption

PA

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, a Turkish Polarnet freighter loads Ukrainian grain at a port in the Odessa region, Ukraine, Friday, July 29, 2022.

PA

ANKARA, Turkey — The Turkish Defense Ministry announced that the first ship carrying Ukrainian grain will depart from the port of Odessa on Monday.

The ministry said the Sierra Leone-flagged freighter Razoni, which has been loaded with maize, will leave Odessa for Lebanon at 05:30 GMT.

The ministry statement said other ships would also leave Ukrainian ports through security corridors in accordance with agreements signed in Istanbul on July 22, but did not provide further details.

Russia and Ukraine have signed separate agreements with Turkey and the UN paving the way for Ukraine – one of the world’s main breadbaskets – to export 22 million tonnes of grain and other products farms stranded in Black Sea ports due to Russian invasion.

The agreements also allow Russia to export grain and fertilizers.