Ankara, October 31 (QNA) – The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced today that 12 ships loaded with 355 tons of grain have left for Africa, Asia and Europe from Ukrainian ports through the Black Sea waters, despite Russia’s withdrawal from the Istanbul agreement to export grain.
The ministry explained, in a statement, that the mentioned ships left the ports of Ukraine, pointing out that the continuation of the transport of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea is taking place as planned under the Istanbul Agreement concluded on July 22, despite Russia’s withdrawal from the agreement.
The United Nations, Ukraine and Turkey agreed earlier on a plan to transfer 14 ships coming from Ukraine along the humanitarian sea corridor on October 31, 12 of which coming from Ukraine. The Joint Coordination Center reported that the United Nations delegation informed Russia of this matter.
On Sunday, Kyiv announced that 218 ships had effectively stopped transporting grain, due to the failure to obtain permits from the Joint Coordination Center to transit through the safe passage.
The Russian authorities announced the suspension of its participation in the agreement to export grain from Ukraine, after the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the Crimea was targeted with drones.
(QNA)