A deal to begin shipping Ukrainian grain to markets around the world will proceed despite Russia’s surprise attack on the Black Sea port city of Odesa, Ukrainian officials said Sunday.
International condemnation continued to pour in for the Russian cruise missile strike Saturday, which came just after a deal brokered by Turkey to ease the blockade of Ukrainian ports and allow the grain to be shipped.
Russia and Ukraine are two of the world’s biggest exporters of wheat and other agricultural products, especially to developing countries in the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — which reached the five-month mark on Sunday — has sharply reduced supplies and sent prices soaring on world markets.