Last Friday, Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine signed a landmark deal to resume grain exports through three Ukrainian ports after months of blockage due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, now in its sixth month.
Under the deal, the joint coordination centre was set up in Istanbul to carry out inspections at harbours’ entrances and exits, and to ensure the safety of the routes.
Turkish officials have stressed the need to restart the exports as soon as possible, to help address the global food crisis and feed a hungry planet.
Ukraine and Russia accounted for around a third of global wheat exports before Russia’s February 24 attack.