The Ukrainian government has issued a stern warning to Russia not to provoke the country.
This is because, on Friday, representatives from both countries, along with the United Nations and Turkey, signed an agreement to facilitate the export of grain.
According to a senior UN official who spoke with CNN, the agreement that was reached in Istanbul and mediated by Turkey and the United Nations will make it possible to export 5 million tonnes of grain per month from three ports in Ukraine.
Ships carrying grains will now be able to navigate through a safe corridor in the Black Sea and then pass through the Bosphorus to reach global markets.
The vessels will be monitored by a Joint Coordination Centre (JCC), which will be established immediately in Istanbul and include representatives from Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the UN.
Among other things, vessels would be inspected before they arrive in Ukraine by Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish and UN officials to ensure they are not carrying weapons.
Issuing the warning, the adviser to the Ukrainian President’s Chief of Staff, Mykhailo Podolyak, tweeted on Friday, “No transport-escort by Russian ships and no presence of Russian representatives in our ports.
“In case of provocations, an immediate military response.”
Podolyak also added that his country was not signing an agreement with Russia, but with Turkey and the UN.
He also said inspections of ships would be carried out in Ukrainian waters by joint groups, if necessary.
