Ukraine's Agricultural Shipment to Continue As Long As Russia Doesn't Violate UN-Turkiye Brokered Deal - FM Kuleba

By V. Sankara KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- Ukraine can only continue exporting three million tonnes of agricultural products every month from its ports if Russia doesn't violate the United Nations (UN)-Turkiye brokered deal on shipments, says Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. The deal between Russia and Ukraine was reached last month amid warnings that the halt in grain shipments from Ukrainian ports due to the conflict could lead to severe food shortages and even outbreaks of famine in parts of the world. "If Russia doesn't violate UN agreement, we will be able to export...our grains are badly needed in various parts of the world..our main consumers are in Africa and Asia," he said during a zoom session with foreign media entitled 'Afternoon Tea with Foreign Minister Kuleba', Wednesday. The session focused on global energy and food security in modern times. Kuleba, however, said Ukraine has transported some 450,000 metric tonnes of grain and corn in the first week following the UN-Turkiye-backed deal inked on July 22 between Russia and Ukraine to resume grain exports via the Black Sea. Ukraine has some 20 million tonnes of grain left over from last year's crop while this year's wheat harvest is also estimated at 20 million tonnes. Ukraine's grain exports have slumped since Russia invaded on Feb 24 and blockaded Ukrainian Black Sea ports, but three Black Sea ports were unblocked last month under the deal between Moscow and Kyiv that made it possible to send hundreds of thousands of tonnes of Ukrainian grain to buyers. Meanwhile, the foreign minister said Ukraine has used every opportunity to find diplomatic solution to the growing tension but however all attempts have been rejected by Russia. -- BERNAMA