UKRAINE: The food grain agreement between Russia and Ukraine which enabled the free flow of food grains in the middle of the crisis was a decision lauded by countries around the world.
Since the supply chains are suffering due to the Russian invasion, several countries have faced a blockade on food supply, but it seems that these problems will soon be solved after nearly five months of conflict.
However, the attack on the Ukrainian port of Odessa has sparked tensions again. Ukraine has consistently criticised Russia’s efforts to destabilize the grain flow but they believe they will be able to recover according to the agreed deal this week.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vehemently condemned the attack and termed it “barbarism” on their end. However, the Kremlin has denied any involvement in such acts.
Ukrainian reports claimed that the Russian missiles targeted a granary near the Odessa port but Russian officials have denied such targets, saying these missile attacks were conducted keeping military targets in mind.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that these missile operations did not intend to harm any grain warehouses and that “this should not affect- and will not affect the beginning of shipments.”
Following the attacks, there was doubt whether Ukraine would be able to fulfil its grain commitments but a senior official has reported that the first shipment will be out this week.
Deputy infrastructure minister Yuriy Vaskov said in a recent news conference, “We believe that over the next 24 hours we will be ready to resume exports from our ports. We are talking about the port of Chornomorsk, it will be the first, then there will be Odessa, then the port of Pivdeny.”
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