Ukraine has said it is ready for the grain ships to travel through its waters, but is awaiting the go-ahead from the United Nations, which it expects to receive later Friday.
An announcement by insurer Ascot from Lloyd’s of London and broker Marsh that they had launched marine cargo and war insurance for grain and foodstuffs moving from Black Sea ports also removed a hurdle to launch the shipments
“We hope to receive UN approval today to confirm the corridors we have proposed for the ships to take in the Black Sea,” Ukraine’s Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said, standing in Odesa next to a ship that has been stranded since the invasion and is located. now ready to set sail.
“After [receiving approval] we are ready to start … we hope that by the end of this week the first ship will leave our ports,” he said. Ukrainian media earlier reported that shipments would begin on Friday.
Oleksandr Kubrakov, Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, speaking to reporters. Photograph: Ed Ram/The Guardian
Under the grain deal, the UN and Turkey have guaranteed the safe passage of ships carrying much-needed grain from Ukraine. Russian forces blockaded Ukraine’s ports in February as part of Moscow’s bid to capture the country, triggering a global grain shortage that has pushed some countries toward starvation.
Ukraine exploited the waters along its coast to protect itself from a land invasion by Russia. Therefore, ships will have to navigate their way out of ports with care.
“We have solved practically all the technical issues [on our side] … we have provided the UN with some options,” Kubrakov said of the ship’s routes. He said it now depends on how the UN and Turkey facilitate the deal.
Less than 24 hours after the deal was signed, Russia fired two missiles at the port of Odesa on Saturday, angering the international community and casting doubt on whether the grain deal would go ahead.
Despite the attacks, ambassadors from G7 countries to Ukraine, as well as UN and EU representatives, stood by Kubrakov in Odesa on Friday and expressed hope that Russia would keep its end of the bargain.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited Chornomorsk, a port in the southern Odesa region, to meet with representatives and see preparations for the shipments.
Britain’s ambassador to Ukraine, Melinda Simmons, said that while Britain was not involved in the agreement or its implementation, it had been helping to secure commercial insurance for ships from London suppliers. The Ascot announcement indicated that progress had been made.
Melinda Simmons, UK Ambassador to Ukraine. Photograph: Ed Ram/The Guardian
Simmons said last Saturday’s attack had scared insurance companies, but they should not be deterred.
“The most important thing is not to be afraid of Russia’s tactics because that’s what they are: tactics, to prevent this from happening,” he said.
Export experts said this week that securing the ships may be one of the biggest hurdles Ukraine faces in terms of future trade.
Simmons said the UK was also helping Ukraine understand how much grain Russia had stolen from its occupied territories. There is growing evidence that Russia has been exporting grain from the Ukrainian territories it occupies.
“Millions of people around the world are waiting for grain to come out of this and other Ukrainian ports,” said Bridget Brink, the US ambassador to Ukraine. “A week ago, the Russians signed an agreement with the UN and Turkey… 24 hours later, Russia bombed this same port.”
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“I hope there will be an agreement later this morning and I can say that the US and the rest of the world will look to Russia to stand up and implement its agreements,” Brink added.
Ukraine is exporting at a rate of about 2.5 million tonnes annually, up from 0.3 tonnes in March, said Rémi Duflot, deputy head of the EU delegation to Ukraine at the port.
Before the war, Ukraine exported between 6 and 8 million tons per month. Since its Black Sea ports were blocked, Ukraine has been using the Danube and its rail network to move its grain.