Ukrainian grain producers have been hit hard by Russia’s blockade of the Black Sea. But thanks to the grain agreement that is currently under negotiation, which Turkey and the UN helped to develop, some exports have been able to resume. However, many of Ukraine’s key ports remain closed.
The 120-day agreement expired last week but could be renewed through new negotiations between the parties. However, there is disagreement about whether the agreement should be valid for 120 days, as before, or 60, as Russia claims.
– Ukrainian ports are currently only operating at 15 percent of their capacity. It means that the world is not getting enough food, enough agricultural products. And on the other hand, Ukrainian farmers cannot sell their products at their right price, their right value, says Dimitry Barinov, deputy director of the port of Odessa.
But for Nibulon, one of Ukraine’s largest grain companies, the length of the agreement does not matter as long as the ports in the Mykolaiv region are not included in the agreement.
SVT’s Urkaina correspondent Elin Jönsson and photographer Lars Lyrefeldt have visited Nibulon, which was hit hard by the blockade.