Black Sea Grain Initiative:
A top United Nations trade official will travel to Russia for the diplomatic push to ensure the revival of the Black Sea grain initiative.
- Black Sea Grain Initiative was set up to resume vital food and fertilizer exports from Ukraine to the rest of the world.
- It was brokered between Russia and Ukraine by the United Nations and Turkey.
- The initiative allowed exports of grain, other foodstuffs, and fertilizer, including ammonia, to resume through a safe maritime humanitarian corridor from three key Ukrainian ports: Chornomorsk, Odesa, and Yuzhny/Pivdennyi, to the rest of the world.
- Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) was established to monitor the implementation of the Initiative.
- JCC Centre is hosted in Istanbul and includes representatives from Russia, Türkiye, Ukraine, and the United Nations.
- The UN acts as the Secretariat for the Centre.
- Vessels wishing to participate in the Initiative will undergo inspection off Istanbul to ensure they are empty of cargo.
- They then sail through the maritime humanitarian corridor to Ukrainian ports to load.
- The corridor is monitored 24/7 to ensure the safe passage of vessels.
- Vessels on the return journey will also be inspected at the inspection area off Istanbul.
