Miller Magazine Issue: 152 August 2022

24 MILLER / AUGUST 2022 NEWS In a major breakthrough, Russia and Ukraine signed separate accords with the UN and Turkey on 22th July to reopen Ukraine's Black Sea ports to grain exports, in an effort to ease an international food crisis caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. An “unprecedented agreement” on the resumption of Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea amid the ongoing war is “a beacon of hope” in a world that desperately needs it, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at the signing ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey. Russian and Ukrainian Ministers signed the Black Sea Grain Ini- tiative, facing each other at opposite ends of the table, while the Secretary-General and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sat in the centre. Turkey has been working with the UN to broker a deal for weeks, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, saw a major rise in prices of grains, cooking oils, fuel and fertilizer, to- gether with major supply chain issues across the world. Much of the grain imported by developing countries comes from Ukraine, but since the invasion, the country’s Black Sea ports have been blockaded by Russia, including the crucial hub of Odesa. The U.N. says 276 million people were severely food insecure before Rus- sia's invasion; now officials project the number to be 345 million. It is expected that the deal will bring relief to millions who have been struggling with rising food prices as a result of the war. “Today, there is a beacon on the Black Sea,” the UN chief said. “A beacon of hope – a beacon of possibility – a beacon of relief -- in a world that needs it more than ever.” Mr. Guterres thanked President Erdogan and his government for facilitating the talks that led to the deal. He commended the Russian and Ukrainian representatives for putting aside their differences in the common interests of humanity. “The question has not been what is good for one side or the other,” he said. “The focus has been on what matters most for the people of our world. And let there be no doubt – this is an agreement for the world.” "We are proud of being instrumental in an initiative that will play a major role in the solution of the global food crisis that has oc- cupied the whole world for a long time," Erdogan said. “We will contribute to preventing the danger of hunger that awaits billions of people in the world.” He noted that by the ship traffic that will start in the coming days, "we will inaugurate a new corridor from the Black Sea to many countries in the world." The president also said the agreement has been made on all processes from the departure of the ships to their safe passage as well as arrival at the port of destination. Ukraine is among the world’s leading grain exporters, supply- ing more than 45 million tonnes annually to the global market, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The Russian invasion has sparked record food and fuel prices, as well as supply chain issues, with mountains of grain stocks stuck in silos. Landmark grain deal signed in Istanbul to resume Ukraine grain exports