Turkey Faces Pressure Ahead of UN-Participated Four-Party Talks
Debate Continues Over Reopening Method for Grain Exports
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Russian military launched a missile strike on the grain export terminal in Mykolaiv, a frontline city in southern Ukraine and one of the major grain export ports. This is interpreted as military pressure to gain an advantage in negotiations ahead of a four-party meeting involving Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, and the United Nations (UN) to resume grain exports. As the global food crisis deepens, concerns are rising that the resumption talks for grain exports will face difficulties due to Russia's continued military provocations.
According to the Associated Press (AP) on the 22nd (local time), Russian forces launched missile strikes on the grain export terminal and various parts of the city of Mykolaiv. Ukrainian authorities reported that at least one person was killed and three were injured in the attack. Oleksandr Senkevych, mayor of Mykolaiv, stated, "Two civilian companies storing fuel and lubricants were hit by the airstrike," adding, "A fire broke out in a place where sunflower oil was stored, and the entire city is engulfed in black smoke."
Schools, buildings, and eight residential areas in Mykolaiv city were also reported to have suffered damage. According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), two grain export terminals in Mykolaiv owned by Western companies were also targeted by the Russian military strikes. Canadian agricultural company Viterra reported that its grain terminal in Mykolaiv was attacked, causing a fire, but fortunately, only one employee suffered burns and is currently receiving treatment. The grain terminal of the U.S. grain trading company Bunge was also struck, but since it had already ceased operations, no damage was reported.
The Russian military also attacked other grain terminals and sunflower oil processing plants, and WSJ reported that they struck a bridge used by Ukrainian farmers and grain brokers to transport grain to the Romanian port of Constan?a. It is known that the Russian military deliberately targeted key points of grain exports to continue their strategy of weaponizing food.
As Russian military provocations continue, the scheduled four-party talks next week to resume grain exports are becoming uncertain. According to Russia's TASS news agency, delegations from Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, and the UN are expected to hold talks in Istanbul, Turkey, next week to discuss the resumption of grain exports through the Black Sea.
However, even before the talks, disagreements among the countries are intensifying. Ukraine insists that grain exports should resume centered on Odesa, which has not yet fallen to Russian forces, while Russia argues for resuming grain exports centered on the Mariupol or Berdyansk regions under its occupation. If the four-party talks fail to reach an agreement, the export of 20 million tons of grain stranded at various Black Sea ports will be delayed again, raising concerns that the international food crisis will worsen further.
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