Cargo ships set sail from Ukrainian ports despite that Russia pulled out of the grain initiative

Monday, 31 October 2022, 10:02

EUROPEAN PRAVDA MONDAY, 31 OCTOBER 2022, 10:52

On Monday, 31 October 12 vessels with 354.5 thousand tonnes of agricultural products on board, sailed from the Ukrainian ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi to countries in Africa, Asia and Europe after Russia "suspended" the grain initiative.

Source: European Pravda referring to the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine

Among the vessels there is the IKARIA ANGEL bulk carrier, with Ukrainian grain for Ethiopia, which is on the brink of famine.

4 more vessels have permission to enter Ukrainian ports for loading. A day before, they underwent the Joint Coordinative Centre inspection with the participation of all sides, including Russia.

The Ministry of Infrastructure stated that the passage of vessels along the humanitarian corridor on 31 October was approved by the UN and Turkey.

Herewith the UN and Turkey are negotiating with the Russian delegation, and continue seeking solutions to enable the full implementation of the grain initiative.

The Joint Coordinative Centre states that representatives of the UN and Turkey suggest that 10 inspection groups check 40 vessels. Thisproposition was accepted by the representatives of Ukraine.

The representatives of Russia have been informed about this. Their reaction is unknown.

Background: On 29 October Russia claimed that it is pulling  out of the "grain initiative" allegedly due to a "terrorist attack" which occurred in the Sevastopol Bay earlier that morning.

Ukraine emphasised that Moscow used the attack on the Russian ships in the bay of the occupied city of Sevastopol in Crimea as a pretense to pull out of the grain initiative and had started taking steps to sabotage it long before this.

European Pravda stated that the grain initiative can work even without the participation of the Russian side if Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of Turkey, approves this. This scenario is already being implemented.

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