First cargo ships arrive in Ukraine after Russia withdraws from Grain Deal
- 17 September, 13:38
Two cargo ships arrived at the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk through Black Sea on Saturday, signaling the possible opening of an alternative route for Ukraine to export grain across the Black Sea.
The ships were due to load 20,000 tonnes of wheat bound for Israel and Egypt. According to Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov, the crew members of the ships consisted Ukrainian, Turkish, Azerbaijani and Egyptian nationals. The ships - Resilient Africa and Aroyat – flew the flag of the Oceanic island nation of Palau.
This was the first time civilian ships had reached a Ukrainian port since Russia backed away from the grain deal. The arrival of the ships signals the opening of a new corridor for grain exports from Ukraine. Kyiv declared the maritime corridor after Russia withdrew from the grain exports deal.
In July, Russia withdrew from the UN-backed Black Sea grain corridor agreement that ensured safe corridor through the Black Sea from three Ukrainian ports that had been blockaded by Russia since the full-fledged invasion of the country last year. After withdrawing from the agreement, Russia bombed Ukraine’s port cities.
