Russia launched a drone attack on a Ukraine grain exporting port on Monday. It happened hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan were due to hold talks in Sochi.
Russia attacked the Danube River port of Izmail in Ukraine’s southern Odesa region. The attack damaged warehouses and set buildings on fire. The attack came as the United Nations and Turkey are working to broker a deal to resume grain exports from Ukraine. Ukraine is a major exporter of wheat and corn.
The war in Ukraine has disrupted global food supplies. The United Nations has warned that millions of people could face hunger if the blockade of Ukrainian ports is not lifted. The world is watching the talks between Putin and Erdogan as a critical opportunity. This opportunity may cause progress on a grain export deal. Erdogan has said that he is hopeful that the talks will be successful. However, he has also warned that there are still “obstacles” to overcome.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the talks would focus on “ways to ensure the safe export of grain from Ukrainian ports.” The ministry said that Russia is ready to “facilitate the unimpeded export of grain” from Ukraine, but it has also demanded that sanctions against Russia be lifted.
It is unclear whether the talks will be able to overcome the obstacles to a grain export deal. However, the attack on the Ukrainian grain port is a reminder of the urgency of the situation.
The United Nations says that it is “working day and night” to reach a deal. The UN is hoping that the talks between Putin and Erdogan will be a step in the right direction.
The attack on the Izmail port was the latest in a series of Russian attacks on Ukrainian grain infrastructure. Russia has also blocked Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea, preventing grain exports. The United Nations is estimating that up to 22 million tonnes of grain are currently present in Ukraine.
The war in Ukraine has caused food prices to rise sharply. The UN warns that millions of people could face hunger. That is if Russia does not lift the blockade of Ukrainian ports. The talks between Putin and Erdogan are a last-ditch effort to reach a grain export deal. The outcome of the talks is uncertain, but it is hoped that they will be successful.