Why the grain deal is not enough

Istanbul, Brussels Three more cargo ships with grain left Ukrainian ports on Friday. They were expected for controls in Turkey, according to the Turkish Ministry of Defense.

“The first caravan with Ukrainian grain left the ports of Greater Odessa,” Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Friday on the agency’s Telegram channel. According to different sources, the three ships were loaded with a total of 57,000 to 58,000 tons of corn.

Another ship, the 75,000-ton capacity Ocean Lion, has signaled to set sail from Chornomorsk. The ship had not been able to leave the Ukrainian port since the outbreak of war at the end of February, like at least 15 other ships. It is now set to head for Singapore and, according to naval authorities, will arrive there on August 29th.

For the first time, empty grain ships are also on their way to Ukraine. A first ship has already been checked in Istanbul and was allowed to continue the journey from there.