A look at the Black Sea Initiative, the U.N.-backed deal that helped reopen Ukraine's ports

UNITED NATIONS — As satellite leaders stitchery for the 3rd time of high-level meetings astatine the U.N. office successful New York City, 7 vessels carrying precious crops softly departed Ukrainian ports.

The ships sail by mode of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a U.N.-backed woody aimed astatine easing Russia's naval blockade and reopening 3 cardinal Ukrainian ports. Representatives from Ukraine, Russia, the U.N. and Turkey held negotiations to make the oversea corridor successful Istanbul earlier this twelvemonth and signed the landmark woody connected July 27.

Before the war, Ukraine and Russia accounted for astir a 4th of planetary atom exports until those shipments came to a terrible halt for astir six months.

The archetypal vas near Ukraine's larboard of Odesa connected Aug. 1 carrying much than 26,000 metric tons of corn. Since then, much than 180 ships carrying a full of 4.2 cardinal metric tons person departed Ukraine's ports.