Russia has welcomed the first shipment of grain from the port of Odesa on Ukraine’s Black Sea coast as a “positive’’ development.
“This is a good opportunity for testing the effectiveness of the functioning of mechanisms that were agreed during the negotiations in Istanbul,’’ Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said.
This is according to the Interfax news agency as saying on Monday.
“We hope that the agreements will be fulfilled by all sides and that the mechanisms function effectively,’’ Peskov said.
The Razoni freighter carrying a cargo of 26, 527 tonnes of maize under a Sierra Leone flag was headed for Lebanon.
The M/V Razoni is the first commercial ship to leave Ukraine’s port of Odesa since 26 February 2022.
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It was scheduled to make a stop at Istanbul on Tuesday where it would undergo inspection.
Similarly, the Secretary-General of International Maritime Organisation (IMO);Mr Kitack Lim has welcomed the departure from Odesa of the first commercial ship to leave the port under the United Nations supported Black Sea Grain Initiative to establish a humanitarian maritime corridor for the safe passage of ships from Ukraine.
“I am pleased to see the first departure. The immense work by the UN and the relevant parties has now come to fruition. IMO will continue to do everything to support safe and secure shipping and ensure the safety of seafarers,” Mr. Lim said.
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