UN Plans Sea Corridor For Export Of Ukraine Grain To Stave Off Global  Food Crisis

By Lateef Adegbite   with agency reports

With the soaring prices of grain in the global food market, the United Nations, UN,  appears to have intervened    to set up  a sea corridor  for Ukrainian grain exports, described by maritime analysts as ‘’reasonable’’.  In actualising the plan,  Antonio Guterres,  the UN , Secretary General, wants Russia and Ukraine,  the two countries  involved in the conflict, as well as Turkey, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO , to agree to the corridor.

There are fears in international circles  that there may be hurdles to the deal , including persuading  Russia to ease its blockade  of Ukraine seaports , and Ukraine  to clear the mines  it had laid at its seaports to frustrate Russia  soldiers and Naval personnel from coming into the seaports, as well as convincing the shipping and Insurance Companies  that the sea corridor is safe to use.

  The UN  Secretary General, according to a  Diplomatic source  may not have  been bothered by such bottlenecks as he was still  working round the clock to establish the sea corridor for export of Ukraine grains   as time is running out.  This is because of the little space  left for  the country’s  next harvest  starting at the end of July 2022.

Until the UN , took up the bold  initiative to establish a sea route for Ukraine to export its grain to the international Community,  the  country was said to have already  established  two routes  through neighbouring  Poland and Romania to export its grain to Foreign buyers to avert global food crisis.

Constantan Port In Romania: Takes Over Export Of Ukraine gain Due To The Biting War With Russia

Rerouting  Ukraine  grain to Romania  , according to a Nigerian importer involves  transport by rail  to ports  on the Danube  river  and loading the cargoes in barges  for sailing  towards  the port of Constanta, described as a complex and costly process. Described as Romania biggest seaport, and home to Europe’s  fastest loading  grain terminal. It was said to have processed  nearly a million tonnes   of grain, particular, wheat and corn,   from Ukraine in the last six months

Markian Dytrasevych, Ukrainian Deputy Agricultural minister fears that  that when  Constanta Operators turn to European grain suppliers   in Summer,  it would further complicate  export of its  grain through the port. Dan Dolghin,  Director of Cereal  operations  at the  Black  Sea port’s main  Comvex  operator,  had said that  for  the port operator   maintaining and increasing  they volume  of  cargo  and continue to help Ukraine grain farmers,  they need to increase their handling capacities, which may not be possible  because of the down turn in the world economy.  

President Zelensky Of Ukraine

 A Diplomatic source had confirmed that the Zelensky Volodymr government was also in talks  with Estonia, Lativia and Lithunia, the Baltic states to add a third corridor  for its grain exports.

Note that Russia and Ukraine alone, account for  a third of global wheat supply and their importance  has been underscored   by the Asian country of Indian export ban  as well as the adverse  crop weather  condition in the North American country of the United States, US and Western Europe.

 There is no gain saying the fact that the  Russia-Ukraine war, coupled with the Western economic sanctions against Russia and Belorussia may    have sent the price of grain, particular, wheat soaring .  Apart from being a major wheat exporter in the world,  Ukrain is also a major exporter of corn, barley, sunflower oil and rapeseed oil. In 2021, alone, Grain which is Ukraine ‘s major industries, accounted for exports  totaling $2.2 billion. 

 At present, dozens of countries , including Nigeria and other West African countries  rely on  import of cereals  from Ukraine, mostly exported through the Black sea, which are now  either in Russian Navy  hands or bloaded by their warships. It is instructive to note that prior to the war, Ukraine exported 98% of its cereals, oilseed through the Black sea, at the rate of up to six million tonnes  per month while Russia and Belarus,  account for 40% of global exports  of the crop nutrient of potash.

,.The  Russian Federation may have cue from  the UN  plans to enhance export  of Ukraine  grain into the world Agricultural products  market in the face of the war  by withdrawing its Naval personnel  from Ukraine’s Snake Island  in the north western Black sea which  it had occupied since February 24, 2022. The country’s Defence ministry had said that the decision was taken ‘’to ensure a free the passage of Ukraine ‘s grain export, threatening global food crisis and free movement of ships without any  hindrance’’.    

  The  Russian Federation ministry of Defense was emphatic when it  said  that  ‘’it does  not  want  to hinder the  UN , plans ‘’to organize a Humanitarian corridor for export  of Agricultural products from  the territory of Ukraine’’.

Teras  Kachta, Ukraine’s Deputy  for the Economy  and lead trade negotiator , had said that Russia’s efforts  to dominate the Black sea and conquer the country’s south may prevent  the UN deal, stressing that the   rumours  of a breakthrough  are ‘’ optimistic than reality’’.  The Ukrainian minister had told those that cares to listen that the country will not agree   ‘’to any attempts to use food security solution goodwill or grace of Russia to establish the sea corridor, stating that it will not work or be trusted’’.

Recall that the G7  Leaders several times  have  implored Vladimir  Putin, the Russian President,  to lift  the Back sea blockade  ahead of Ukraine’s  imminent Summer Harvest, with fears  that the  country’s grain  storage capacity  may soon be  exhausted  unless space is needed to accommodate new Harvests.

 But Russian Federation officials a  had insisted on ‘’inspecting  the ocean going vessels entering and exiting the Ukrainian  ports, to ensure that arms and amunitions are not illegally  taken into the country in order to end the siege.  But Zelensky Volodymir HAS likened the idea to piracy and would not agree to it.

  Kachta, who may have spoken the mind of President Zelensky, when he asserted  that instead of Russian officials inspecting ships entering or exiting the country’s ports to lift grains to the international grain market,  it would be better  for a third party’s Naval presence to escort  vessels, including  Her Majesty’s  fleet  or the US or Turkey’’.

Zelensky, the Ukrainian President may have made matters worse when he said that   he will only’’ allow  grain ships  to leave the country’s port if the European Union, EU,  lifts the sanctions  imposed against Russia after the  country invaded Ukraine  last February.

For now, Ukraine  appear to be sailing barges  loaded with grain  through a section  of the Danube  and on to Romania’s Black seaport  of Constanta to beat Russian Army to it. Many believe that the shipment volumes are nothing compared to the volume  exported  to the internal Community prior to the war.

The Russian Army may have advantage of the war to smuggle grain  picked  up  at Sevastol  in Cremea, the region annexed by Russiai n 2014. Only recently  a ship called  the Fedor  steamed south of the Bsphorous, as reported by Financial Times, before stopping at Bandirma, a Turkish seaport.

 The Russian bulk carrier was said to have been  loaded with  9,000 tonnes  of corn. The cargo was said to have come from a small port from Russia, a major source of grains to the world.