Ukraine's First Grain Export Ship Heads to Syria

Lebaron Ukraine Corn Cargo Refuses Unloading, Changes Route to Syria
Wheat Cargo Ship Arrives in Turkey... Ethiopia Food Aid Vessel Also Departs

[Asia Economy International Desk Reporter] Reuters and other agencies reported on the 14th (local time) that a ship carrying Ukrainian grain is heading to Syria.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The ship, which left Ukraine's Odesa port on the 1st, arrived in Tripoli, Lebanon on the 7th, but the Lebanese side refused to accept the cargo citing transportation delays.

This bulk carrier was the first to depart from Ukraine's Odesa port since Russia and Ukraine agreed last month, under the mediation of the United Nations (UN) and Turkey, to secure safe corridors for resuming grain exports.

Foreign media reported that the Razoni, carrying Ukrainian corn, is approaching the port of Tartus in Syria.

Syria is a country that severed diplomatic relations with Ukraine. Syria recognized the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), which are republics declared by pro-Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine, as independent countries. In response to Ukraine's declaration of severing diplomatic ties in June, Syria also accepted this decision.

The exact circumstances under which the Razoni is heading to Syria have not been clearly revealed. Reuters added that the Ukrainian Embassy in Lebanon has not commented on the Razoni's final destination.

Meanwhile, the UN announced that the Sormovskiy, the first ship carrying Ukrainian wheat since the resumption of grain exports, left a Ukrainian port on the 12th and arrived at the port of Istanbul, Turkey, its destination. Additionally, a UN-chartered ship carrying 23,000 tons of Ukrainian grain to support Ethiopia also departed from a Ukrainian port on the same day.