Marine Traffic data revealed on Friday that two cargo ships have departed ports in southern Ukraine’s Black Sea region, defying the Russian naval blockade.
This came amid Ukraine’s efforts to export its grains via the Danube River following stalled negotiations for a grain agreement renewal.
According to information published by MarineTraffic, two ships named “Vilia Glory” and “Ocean Courtsy” left the port of Pivdenny, approximately twenty kilometers east of Odessa. These ships are registered under the flags of Liberia and the Marshall Islands.
It’s been reported that “Vilia Glory” was initially called to the port of Odessa before setting a course for Bulgaria’s Varna port. However, the nature of the cargo carried by these ships remains unknown.
Numerous commercial vessels have been stranded in Ukrainian Black Sea ports since the start of the war in Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
While some grain-carrying ships were permitted to pass under an agreement brokered by Turkey and the United Nations, Russia suspended it in mid-July of the previous year.
During the current week, the foreign ministers of Russia and Turkey convened to discuss the renewal of the agreement, which had aided Ukraine in exporting 33 million tons of grains and other agricultural products despite the ongoing conflict.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov urged guarantees from Western nations, requesting equal access for Russia to export grains and fertilizers without hindrance.
The ministers’ meeting serves to prepare for a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi on Monday, as confirmed by the Kremlin on Friday.
