Facilities of a gas processing plant using the rich gas resources from the Black Sea are pictured during a press tour on June 28, 2022 in Vadu, Romania. - The EU looks to reduce its dependency on Russian gas after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. An exception within the EU, Romania has significant reserves but must turn to Russia in winter to cover around 20 percent of its gas needs. (Photo by Andrei PUNGOVSCHI / AFP)

Ukrainian grain exports are still stuck in ports due to the Russian naval blockade in the Black Sea. The resulting increase in wheat prices hit poorer countries in Africa in particular. Yesterday, however, Turkish and Russian negotiators achieved their first success in resuming exports.

As the “Wall Street Journal” reports, a coordination center for grain exports is to be set up in Istanbul. Ukrainian ships are said to export grain from three Ukrainian ports. A ceasefire for a corresponding sea corridor is intended to guarantee the safety of the ships. In addition, the shipping route is to be cleared of sea mines.

Important from a Russian point of view: The ships should first be checked by the Turkish Navy to ensure that they are not misused for western arms deliveries.

As the “WSJ” further reports, the approval of Russian President Vladimir Putin is still required for a final agreement. “The most important thing is that we still need the green light from Putin,” the newspaper quoted a Western official as saying. A failure of the negotiations is still possible. “It would be wrong to say that an agreement is imminent,” another person close to the negotiations was quoted as saying.