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Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea agreed upon by Ukraine and Russia, the United Nations and Turkiye are expected to begin in earnest from today (1st).
However, even if the export route is open, it remains to be seen how much it will help in resolving the global food shortage as Ukraine's grain production is greatly reduced due to the war.
Kwak Sang-eun is a correspondent in Paris.
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Ibrahim Kalin Turkiye, spokesman for the Office of the President, said that the first ship carrying Ukrainian grain will set sail for the Black Sea route at the earliest today or tomorrow at the latest.
It has been ten days since Ukraine and Russia, the United Nations and four delegations from Turkey agreed to reopen grain exports blocked by the Black Sea blockade after the Russian invasion.
On the 28th of last month, a joint coordination center was established in Istanbul, Turkiye to ensure safe routes and oversee related procedures.
[Dmitro Barinov / Deputy Director of the Port Authority of Ukraine: Last year there were 160 million tons of cargo trade.
This is a very important part of Ukraine's economy.]
Ukrainian President Zelensky said, "I am concerned that this year's grain harvest in Ukraine will be only about half of what it used to be."
Ukraine is known to have difficulties growing grain, with wheat fields burning in the wake of the Russian invasion.
In the midst of this, Russian bombing of southern Mykolayu has killed the head of one of Ukraine's largest agricultural companies, "Nibulon," Olexi Badatursky and his wife, at their home, Governor Mykolayu said.
For these reasons, even if Ukraine's grain exports resume, there are concerns that actual exports will not meet market expectations.