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A ship carrying Ukrainian grain received permission today to set sail to Lebanon, following the Turkish-brokered deal with Ukraine and Russia on grain exports.
The first ship carrying Ukrainian grain for Lebanon since the agreement left the port of Odesa on Aug. 1. It marked the first time a ship left Ukraine with grain for Lebanon since February, the Ukrainian Embassy in Lebanon said in a statement.
Today, the ship received permission to cross the Bosporus, from where it can traverse the Mediterranean Sea to Lebanon, The Associated Press reported.
The vessel is named Razoni and flies the flag of Sierra Leone. It was positioned at the top of the Bosporus today in the afternoon local time. The ship listed its destination as Tripoli, Lebanon, according to the ship-tracking website MarineTraffic.
Why it matters: Razoni is set to be the first ship to bring Ukrainian grain to Lebanon since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February. Ukraine and Russia export wheat to several Middle Eastern states, including Lebanon. The war severely disrupted these exports. Last month, Turkey brokered an agreement between Ukraine and Russia on the safe passage of Ukrainian grain out of the Black Sea. Part of the deal stipulates that Turkey inspect the shipments, hence the permission Razoni received today.
Lebanon, which was already suffering from a debilitating economic and energy crisis, was hit hard by the Russian invasion. There have been wheat shortages in Lebanon this summer, leading to long lines at bakeries and some Lebanese going hungry.
Know more: Razoni’s voyage comes amid a dispute involving Ukraine and Lebanon over grain shipments. The Ukrainian Embassy in Beirut said that a ship known as Laodicea, which is currently docked in Tripoli, is carrying Ukrainian grain stolen by Russia. A Lebanese customs official told the AP last week that there is nothing wrong with the ship’s contents.
The Ukrainian Embassy is not convinced, however. Yesterday, the embassy offered to buy the wheat and barley aboard the ship at what it said were below market prices, the embassy said in a tweet.
On Aug. 1, the embassy said that the ship will be held in Lebanon for another 72 hours.
Ukraine has accused Russia of stealing grain from its territory throughout the war.
Update: On Aug. 4, a Lebanese official said that Laodicea left Lebanese waters. A Syrian official later said the ship arrived in the port of Tartous.
