Turkish official: Probably within a week the first exports of Ukrainian grain

The center to oversee Ukrainian grain exports is expected to officially open today in Istanbul following a landmark deal reached last week, and a senior Turkish official said the first ship was likely to leave Black Sea ports in a few days.

Russia and Ukraine signed the deal on Friday, brokered by Ankara and the United Nations, to resume exports of grain and fertilizer, which have been locked up in silos because of the war, to ease an international food crisis.

The joint coordination center (JCC) in Istanbul will oversee departures from three Ukrainian ports where ships will have to bypass the mines, and conduct inspections of incoming ships for weapons. All ships pass through Turkish waters.

A Turkish official said all details had been worked out, including a safe passage for ships that would not require the clearance of sea mines.

“It won’t take more than a few days. It looks like the first grains will be loaded this week and their export from Ukraine will take place,” said the official, who requested anonymity.

The deal was almost immediately jeopardized when Russia fired cruise missiles at the port of Odessa, Ukraine’s largest, on Saturday morning, just 12 hours after the signing ceremony in Istanbul.

But both Moscow and Kyiv have said they will press ahead with the deal — the first major diplomatic development in the conflict, now in its sixth month.

All parties will appoint representatives to the JCC to monitor the implementation of the agreement.

Ukraine and Russia exported about a third of the world’s wheat exports before the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24.