Agreement on opening up Ukrainian ports for grain export is signed in Istanbul

This was stated on Espreso TV. 

The countries have signed agreements that allow the export of millions of tons of grain from blocked Black Sea ports.

According to the agreements, all parties give maximum guarantees of providing a reliable environment for all participating vessels. A joint coordination center will also be established in Turkey and inspection teams will operate. All activities in territorial waters must be carried out under the authority and responsibility of Ukraine.

Within the framework of the agreement, the parties do not attack merchant and other ships and port facilities within the framework of the initiative. In case of need for demining, a minesweeper of another country clears the approaches to Ukrainian ports. Also, merchant ships must be registered in the coordination center.

During the movement of vessels, technical surveillance must be carried out. The ships will move along the maritime humanitarian corridor agreed by all parties. Their movement will be controlled by the parties remotely: no warships, planes, as well as drones can approach the maritime humanitarian corridor closer than the distance agreed by the coordination center. 

The agreement stipulates that all participating merchant vessels are subject to inspection by a special team in ports designated by Turkey at the entrance/exit to/from the Turkish Straits (Bosphorus - Ed.). The initiative will remain in effect for 120 days and may be automatically extended for the same period unless one of the parties notifies of its intention to terminate or modify it.

According to Mustafa Nayyem, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, the text of the agreements will be made public in full later.

"There are no other closed appendices, protocols, documents, as well as pieces of paper on the knee. At the same time, there is not a single signature of the Ukrainian side next to the signature of the Russian occupiers. The document was signed by representatives of Turkey, the UN, as well as Ukraine", Nayyem said.

According to him, the unblocking of the ports does not imply any relaxation of sanctions against Russia.