During negotiations in Turkey, Russia and Ukraine apparently agreed on a compromise that would allow grain exports from Ukraine. The agreement, which was negotiated with UN participation, is to be signed in the afternoon.
So far it is known that the export of millions of tons of grain from the war-torn Ukraine is to be jointly monitored by the conflicting parties under UN leadership. The agreement to end the Russian grain blockade in the Black Sea provides for a joint control center in Istanbul, which is to be run by the United Nations and staffed by representatives from Russia, Ukraine and Turkey. The German Press Agency (DPA) learned this from diplomatic circles in New York. Details of the EU's new sanctions against Russia have also been made public.
The envisaged agreement on the Ukrainian grain deliveries provides that the precise coordinates for the humanitarian corridor on the sea route between Ukraine and the Bosphorus will also be determined in the control center in Istanbul. According to DPA information, the parties also agreed that ships bound for Ukraine would first be searched in Istanbul to ensure that they were not carrying weapons or anything similar.
There should be another check in Turkey if ships from Ukraine want to leave the Black Sea again. This is to ensure that only grain is on board. Ships in the humanitarian corridor and the ports involved should not be attacked. The agreement is said to be initially valid for four months.
