Today, Russia and Ukraine signed agreements that clear the way for
exporting millions of tons of desperately needed Ukrainian grain
as well as guaranteeing Russian exports of its grain and fertilizers.
Ukraine is one of the world's largest exporters of wheat, corn and
sunflower oil, cutting off its supply had sent green prices higher
worldwide and threaten global food security. Compounding famine in
parts of Africa, John Yang has more
Judy. The deal aims to and a wartime standoff that's had some 20
million tons of grain stuck in Ukrainian ports Since the Russian
invasion. Three Ukrainian ports will now be open shipments have been
blocked by both our Russian naval blockade and Ukraine's use of minds
to defend the ports. Today's agreement guarantees safe passage for
Ukrainian vessels from the ports overseen by a coordination center
in Turkey.
Earlier, I spoke with a key negotiator UN under Secretary Martin
Griffiths. I asked him about the significance of the agreement.
The principal significance for asked is, of course.
The contribution to reducing food insecurity around the world. This
is an agreement for the For the world. It's not an agreement just
for Ukraine or Russia or even Europe.
And the violent If I'm right, we've seen grain wheat prices go down
today by 45% because of the agreement, so the two ways in which
This food insecurity around the world, which has been so attributable
in large part of Ukraine war
is that there will be much more grain and fertilizers out into the
market from both Russia and
Ukraine.
But also that it will. They will come at a reduced price. I cannot
think of an example.
Of an agreement mediated between two warring parties in the middle
of a hot war.
Producing a benefit.
That that is interviewed Hable to global welfare. I don't think that
has happened before. It's also an agreement with met by the two part
made by the two parties.
Shows they can do that They can negotiate in good faith and come
to an agreement. How quickly How soon do you think grain will start
leaving
Ukrainian ports and perhaps more important?
How soon will the effects be felt in the areas suffering from famine
now?
Ukrainians were telling us here today that that ports will be ready
to export grain.
Within two days, two or three days. They're ready. They're ready
to go. They have to identify safe shipping lanes.
And then the corridor across the black Sea That has to be done also
with our joint coordination center, So setting that up getting inspection
teams ready is probably going to take a couple of weeks impact on
places in famine course.
It depends where those are the one that's very much at the top of
my agenda in the horn right where we see absolutely terrible prospects
in Somalia, So I think we'll see immediately. Prices tapering down,
which will be felt by people in those areas of conflict. Famine is
a bit more complicated because it's not just a price issue. All that
is probably
Also getting produced there and to get wheat. Let's say from Odessa
to
Egypt or to
you know through to port Sudan or something.
Takes weeks some weeks, so I think we'll have an impact.
On the market immediately, but there's some places this is what's
so
Bad about this year.
Who were who are already perhaps beyond the point.
But this can deliver this. Of course agreement has deals with grain
that's already been harvested. It's been sitting in the ports.
But there has been great destruction to one of the great bread baskets
of the world and the farmland in Ukraine. How much of a problem?
Will that present and the future that the damage and destruction
to farmland in Ukraine?
There's been talk about getting a tractor spares and so on back in
to Ukraine, and by the way to Russia.
Mm.
And this came up from time to time in this negotiation of our Black
Sea deal.
Where we said Look, we're just negotiating grain out at the moment.
We've got to make that simple, simple ish priority.
But if the parties agree and build confidence, they could start importing
stuff into Ukraine to do the job that you're talking about, but
That lets us beyond a few illusions. This ain't stopping the war.
This is just getting the grain out. I'd like to think that the fact
that the party is going to agree to this
Means that maybe there will come a time when this confidence between
them can make them agree to other things, too.
And we're already beginning beginning to have kind of
Conversations about that you mentioned also the There's a piece of
this about Russian grain and Russian fertilizer. Could you explain
that to US
agreement signed today what is involved in that is removing impediments
to the export of grain and fertilizer from Russia.
As you know, they're not sanctioned anyway. So this isn't about removing
sanctions, removing impediments. So even if
You know you don't have a sanctioned banks weren't
Um, get involved in trading out the grain fertilizer from Russia,
So it's about comfort letters. It's about statements by particularly
us and the EU that no grain fertilizer, please export them. Secretary
General referred to this as a beacon of hope and a beacon of possibility.
You also talked about the sort of unusual aspect of this that this
is an agreement between war and parties. Could this
Also show some hope and some possibility of other areas of negotiation.
Other areas of agreement.
I hope so.
I would like to think that this will encourage
US Turkey, the parties
To think of further humanitarian areas where we can find better agreements.
There's still large parts of Ukraine will manage and access is limited
because of the fighting, and we are still trying to get on Aidan's
across lines and so forth. Let's at least look to humanitarian
Benefits in war and then let's dream a little
about whether we could move from there.
Martin Griffiths, the UN under secretary general for humanitarian
affairs, and emergency relief coordinator. Thank you very much. Thanks,