UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on December 28 named a retired Kuwaiti vice admiral as coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative to manage grain shipments from war-torn Ukraine. Abdullah Abdul Samad Dashti will help coordinate the 5-month-old operation by Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, and the United Nations to ensure shipments of grains, oilseeds, fertilizers, and other farm products can get safely to markets. Exports from Ukraine -- a critical supplier of grains, oilseeds, and vegetable oils to global markets -- were cut off by a Russian naval embargo after Moscow's forces invaded the country in February.
UN Names New Coordinator For Black Sea Grain Initiative
Cargo ship Despina V, carrying Ukrainian grain, is seen in the Black Sea off Kilyos near Istanbul, Turkey in November.