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First grain-loaded ship leaves Ukraine for Lebanon
The Turkish National Defense Ministry announced that the first ship to leave Ukraine under a historic grain export deal departed on Monday (August 1) from the port of Odesa for Lebanon.
"The ship is expected to arrive in Istanbul on Aug. 2," the ministry said in a statement, adding that the vessel would continue on its way following inspections in the Turkish metropolis.
The Turkish defence minister said earlier that the Sierra Leone-flagged ship Razoni, which is loaded with corn, will head to Lebanon. More ships will follow, it said.
Turkey, the UN, Russia and Ukraine signed a deal on July 22 to reopen three Ukrainian ports -- Odesa, Chernomorsk, and Yuzhny -- for grain that has been stuck for months because of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which is now in its sixth month.
The deal aims to allow safe passage for grain shipments in and out of Chornomorsk, Odesa and the port of Pivdennyi, the Swissinfo reported, citing Reuters.
Ukrainian presidential officials have said 17 ships were docked in Ukraine's Black Sea ports with almost 600,000 tonnes of cargo. Of them, 16 vessels held Ukrainian grain with a total tonnage of about 580,000 tonnes.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "warmly" welcomed the Razoni's departure.
Volodymyr Zelensky orders evacuation of Donetsk amid war with Russia
A UN statement by Guterres' spokesman, Stephane Dujarric: "The ship is bound for the port of Tripoli, Lebanon, carrying a cargo of 26,527 tonnes of corn, and is the first vessel to depart under the Black Sea Grain Initiative signed in Istanbul, on 22 July.
Ensuring that existing grain and foodstuffs can move to global markets is a humanitarian imperative.”
It added that this departure was the collective achievement of the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) in Istanbul.
Volodymyr Zelensky visits port as Ukraine readies for grain exports
Russia and Ukraine account for nearly a third of global wheat exports. But Western sanctions on Russia and fighting along Ukraine's eastern seaboard have prevented grain ships safely leaving ports.
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