U.N., Turkey, Ukraine press ahead with Black Sea grain deal despite Russian pullout, reuters.com

The United Nations, Turkey and Ukraine are pressing ahead to implement a Black Sea grain deal with a transit plan in place for 16 ships on Monday, despite Russia suspending its participation in the pact that has allowed the export of Ukrainian agricultural products to world markets.

Russia, which invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, halted its role in the Black Sea deal on Saturday for an ”indefinite term” because it could said it could not ”guarantee safety of civilian ships” travelling under the pact after an attack on its Black Sea fleet.

The United Nations and Turkey, two main brokers of the July deal, scrambled on Sunday to save it. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was deeply concerned about Russia’s move and delayed a foreign trip to try and revive the agreement that was intended to ease a global food crisis, his spokesperson said. […] No ships moved through the established maritime humanitarian corridor on Sunday. But the United Nations said in a statement that it had agreed with Ukraine and Turkey on a movement plan for 16 vessels on Monday – 12 outbound and 4 inbound. Läs artikel