Ukraine Grain Corridor

Subject : International Relations

Section: United Nation

Concept :

Russia said on Monday it would be “inappropriate” to extend the Black Sea grain deal unless sanctions imposed on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 last year that have affected its agricultural exports are lifted.
The deal to free up grain exports from Ukraine’s southern Black Sea ports was extended on Nov. 17 for 120 days.
It has created a protected sea transit corridor and was designed to alleviate global food shortages by allowing exports to resume from three ports in Ukraine, a major producer of grains and oilseeds.

Ukraine Stand on the issue

Ukraine has not made public any changes it is seeking, but in the run-up to the November agreement, it sought unsuccessfully to have the deal expanded to include more ports.
Ukraine wanted to include the ports of the southern Mykolaiv region, which provided 35% of Ukrainian food exports before Russia’s invasion.

Black Sea Grain Initiative

The Black Sea Grain initiative endeavours to tackle escalating food prices emanating from supply chain disruptions because of Russian actions in the world’s ‘breadbasket’.
The deal brokered by the United Nations (UN) and Turkey, was signed in Istanbul in July, 2022.
It provides a safe maritime humanitarian corridor for Ukrainian exports (particularly for food grains) from three of its key ports, namely, Chornomorsk, Odesa and Yuzhny/Pivdennyi in the Black Sea.

Objective:

Initially stipulated for a period of 120 days, the deal was to provide for a safe maritime humanitarian corridor for Ukrainian exports (particularly for food grains).
The central idea was to calm markets by ensuring an adequate supply of grains, thereby limiting food price inflation.
Role of Joint Coordination Centre (JCC):
The deal put in place a Joint Coordination Centre (JCC), comprising senior representatives from Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the UN for oversight and coordination.
All commercial ships are required to register directly with the JCC to ensure appropriate monitoring, inspection and safe passage. Inbound and outbound ships (to the designated corridor) transit as per a schedule accorded by the JCC post-inspection.
This is done so as to ensure there is no unauthorised cargo or personnel onboard.
Following this, they are allowed to sail onwards to Ukrainian ports for loading through the designated corridor.