The Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that a “critical step” had been taken to allow the “safe and secure export” of millions of tonnes of grain via the Black Sea, but stressed instead that no formal agreement had yet been signed between Russia and Ukraine.
The Turkish government has been working for weeks with the United Nations to broker a deal, following Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine, which led to a significant rise in the prices of grains, cooking oils, fuels and fertilizers, as well as major supply chain issues around the world.
Need for stability
Much of the grain imported by developing countries comes from Ukraine, but since the invasion the country’s Black Sea ports have been blocked by Russia, including the crucial one in Odessa. .
“In a world darkened by global crises, today, at last, there is a glimmer of hope,” Guterres said, briefing correspondents at UN headquarters in New York. “A beacon of hope to alleviate human suffering and alleviate world hunger. A glimmer of hope to support developing countries and the most vulnerable people. A glimmer of hope to bring some stability to the global food system, which badly needs it”.
The UN chief said the United Nations was represented at the Istanbul negotiations by the head of humanitarian affairs, Martin Griffiths, and by Rebeca Grynspan, head of the UN trade and development agency, UNCTAD.
“Since the start of the war, I have stressed the importance of the availability of Ukrainian food products and Russian food products and fertilizers on world markets,” the UN chief said.
A deal for the world
“In the end, the goal of all parties is not just an agreement between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, but an agreement for the world,” he said.
Mr. Guterres thanked Türkiye for its “remarkable efforts” in organizing the talks and praised all participants for their work “to secure an agreement for our common humanity.” »
“Today is an important and substantial step. A step on the way to a global agreement. We must also do more for people in need and developing countries beset by a food, energy and financial crisis for which they are not responsible,” he added.
The importance of dialogue
The UN leader recalled that while the war in Ukraine was raging, the “encouraging news” of the Istanbul negotiations “shows the importance of dialogue. »
Responding to questions from reporters, the Secretary-General said he hoped the first meeting in Istanbul would lead to another, “very soon”, potentially next week.
Asked about the broader possibility of reaching a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine to end the fighting, Guterres said there was still “a long way to go”, although developments of this Wednesday are an extremely encouraging sign.
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