22″ July “2022
- Kyiv and Moscow have signed a deal on resuming grain exports from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports.
- Ukraine ruled out signing a direct accord with Russia, with both sides instead adopting “mirror” agreements with Ankara and the UN. Read more
Boris Johnson tells Zelenskyy that UK support will “not waver”
Boris Johnson spoke to Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday, telling the Ukrainian president that UK support will “not waver” regardless of who becomes the next prime minister.
The UK prime minister also welcomed news of much-anticipated deal to get grain out of Ukraine, amid hopes that the agreement can avoid a global food crisis.
In a call between the two leaders, Johnson “stressed the UK’s ongoing determination to support the Ukrainian people and said that resolve will not waver, no matter who becomes the next UK prime minister”.
Ukraine grain backlog could take months to clear: AJE correspondent
Al Jazeera’s Diplomatic Editor James Bays, reporting from the UN headquarters, says he expects it will be a “couple of weeks” before the first shipment of grain leaves Ukraine under the deal with Russia.
“There will be a test of implementation in the coming weeks,” Bays said, noting there was a backlog of millions of tonnes of Ukrainian grain in the country.
“It is going to take some time to get all of that grain out – experts estimate probably about four months,” he added.
Bays said there were likely to be questions over why Russia had agreed to the deal now, and whether the accord suggests “Russia is changing its overall calculations with regards to the war”.
He added most diplomats canvassed did not think the agreement would “necessarily translate to peace in Ukraine
EU foreign policy chief urges ‘swift implementation’ of grain deal
The European Union’s foreign policy chief has welcomed the grain deal struck between Russia and Ukraine.
“Today’s Istanbul agreement is a step in the right direction. We call for its swift implementation,” Josep Borrell tweeted. He added the bloc remained “committed” to helping Ukraine bring “as much of its grain into global markets as possible”.
In a fuller statement published online, Borrell also accused Moscow of having “endangered food security for millions of people across the world”.
“The present agreement offers an opportunity to start reversing this negative course,” he said.
Moscow won’t ‘take advantage’ of grain deal: Shoigu
Russia’s defence minister has said that Moscow will not “take advantage” of the de-mining and opening of Ukrainian ports as part of a UN-brokered deal to restart vital grain exports from the country.
“Russia has taken on the obligations that are clearly spelled out in this document. We will not take advantage of the fact that the ports will be cleared and opened. We have made this commitment,” Sergei Shoigu said on the Rossiya-24 state TV channel after attending a signing ceremony for the accord in Istanbul.
G7 to ensure grain deal does not increase risks for Ukraine: Trudeau
The G7 will be watching closely to ensure a deal to resume Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea does not “put Ukraine further at risk of being further invaded and attacked by Russia,” Canada’s prime minister has said.
“The G7 is working closely with partners like Turkey and others to ensure that we can get that grain out of Ukraine and to places around the world where it’s needed without putting at risk Ukraine’s sovereignty and protection,” Justin Trudeau said.
US says it will hold Russia accountable for implementing grain deal
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the UN, says Washington will work to hold Russia accountable for implementing the agreement reached on resuming Ukraine’s Black Sea grain exports.