Ukraine And Russia Sign 'Beacon Of Hope' Food Crisis Deal

_Summary
*Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the UN have signed a crucial grain deal in Istanbul
*It will allow Ukraine to resume exports of grain through the Black Sea, after a Russian blockade
*Ukraine and Russia agree deal to resume grain exports through
*Ukraine's Black Sea ports
*Russia's blockade of the ports reduced global grain supplies and increased prices
*Food prices on commodity markets fell after news of the deal emerged
*The deal was signed in Turkey, whose government brokered the deal alongside the UN
*UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres calls it an "agreement for the world" and a "beacon of hope"
*Ukraine ruled out signing a direct deal with Russia - both sides signed "mirror" deals

Deal will be good news to millions in Nigeria
Nduka Orjinmo
Reporting from Abuja, Nigeria
This will come as good news to millions in Nigeria - just a day after bread disappeared from the shelves as the country’s bakers' association began a four-day strike to protest at high production costs.

Nigeria is the fourth largest importer of wheat in the world, spending more than $2bn in 2020 to buy the grains.

While most of its supply came from Russia, the spike in global wheat prices led to a rise in prices of items such as pasta, noodles and bread, some by 50%.

Though it will not automatically lead to a cessation of the four-day strike by the bakers’ association - as there is still the matter of a 15% levy on wheat imports they want the government to remove, among other things - people can expect some price stability for staple food, amid high inflation.

What's in it for Russia?
Paul Adams
BBC Diplomatic correspondent

It's not just Ukrainian grain that's important to ease this pressure on global food supplies - it's also Russian produce and Russian fertiliser.

Neither of those are under any kind of international sanctions.

But because of the reluctance on the part of international shipping companie to do business with Russia, Moscow has had all sorts of problems finding vessels to do its own exports through the Black Sea.

The parallel deal that was reached today will address those Russian concerns about its ability to export as well.

These two deals had to be reached simultaneously because nothing was going to happen unless both deals were struck.

Most important thing I've done, says UN secretary general
Orla Guerin
Reporting from Istanbul

The Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, told me the deal to resume exports of grain from Ukraine is vital for the war-torn nation, and for many in the developing world who are at risk of famine.

He said it was probably the most important thing he has done in his time heading the UN.

Guterres emphatically denied Russia was being rewarded under the agreement, though it too will benefit - Moscow will be helped to get tonnes of its food and fertiliser to world markets.

These items are not covered by sanctions, but Russia has faced problems exporting them since it invaded its neighbour in February.

He said:
It is vital for Ukraine. It is not vital for the Russian Federation. Russia benefits more from the export of fuel. That’s where the big business is."

I asked if it was difficult to negotiate with Russia, as it continues to kill women and children in Ukraine.

"Of course it’s not easy," Guterres replied, "but there is a sense of duty that the Secretary General of the United Nations must have in relation to the whole world."

He admitted that the UN had no means of punishing Russia if it breaches the deal, but he said that would "an absolutely unacceptable scandal and the whole international community would react in a very strong way."

The four-wary agreement – between Russia, Ukraine, the UN and Turkey - is a considerable diplomatic victory in a brutal war, now in its sixth month. But the UN Secretary General sees little prospect of broader peace talks.

"I'm very worried with the fact that at the present moment, I see no conditions for a peace process. This is clear, not even for a global ceasefire. I don’t think we are close to that."

Sighs of relief and quiet optimism after famine worries
Imogen Foulkes
Reporting from Geneva

United Nations aid agencies will heave a huge sigh of relief at the deal to unblock Ukraine’s ports.

The World Food Programme buys grain from Ukraine to deliver to countries facing starvation.

Last year Ukrainian grain fed 400 million people.

The WFP has had to cut rations to Sudan and Niger, and has warned that the world "faces a hunger crisis of catastrophic proportions" if the Black Sea ports are not unblocked.

The International Committee of the Red Cross says rising food, fuel, and fertiliser prices linked to the war in Ukraine have combined with successive drought and conflict in the Horn of Africa to threaten an "irreversible humanitarian crisis with an unimaginable human cost".

New grain supplies, more generous aid deliveries and a reduction in food prices could save many lives.

Today UN officials are quietly optimistic; they view the port agreement as a kind of mini ceasefire which might even lead to wider deals.

But first the agreement has to be officially signed, then it has to actually work, and even getting the necessary cargo ships into the Black Sea could take several weeks.

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Lalasticlala
Mynd44

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Good for the world.

The price no go still come down in nigeria that i know.

I guess nobody will care about their fight after this.