THE Red Cross yesterday hailed a “life- saving” deal to break Russia’s Black Sea blockade and allow grain out of Ukraine.
Pilot boats will guide cargo ships through mines to Odesa after Russia vowed not to attack them.
Stockpiles of Ukrainian grains, such as this being harvested in the Kharkiv region, will be allowed to break Russia’s Black Sea blockade[/caption]
Wheat prices plunged to pre-war levels on news of yesterday’s deal — brokered in Istanbul and attended by ex-Chelsea owner and oligarch Roman Abramovich[/caption]
Up to five million tons a month could be shipped out — reducing the risk of a global famine.
The UN said 44million people were “marching towards starvation” due to the war and drought.
Red Cross chief Robert Mardini said the deal was “nothing short of life-saving”.
But Britain warned two-faced Putin officials could fail to honour their promises.
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Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: “We will be watching to ensure Russia’s actions match its words.”
She said the only route to lasting security was for Vladimir Putin to end the war and withdraw from Ukraine.
Ukraine is the fifth largest grain producer with 22million tons in silos near Odesa.
Wheat prices plunged to pre-war levels on news of yesterday’s deal — brokered in Istanbul and attended by ex-Chelsea owner and oligarch Roman Abramovich.
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Turkish and UN officials will inspect inbound ships to ensure they are not bringing weapons. Turkey has offered to help remove mines.
Putin’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu — who insisted Russia had no plans to attack days before February’s invasion — claimed: “We will not take advantage of the fact that the ports will be cleared.”
Ukraine and Russia signed identical but separate agreements with UN and Turkish officials. It follows talks in Iran between Putin and Turkey’s President Erdogan.
