A BRIEF ANALYSIS OF THE GRAIN CORRIDOR AGREEMENT IN TERMS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

Abstract

On Thursday 24 February 2022, the military aggression launched by the Russian Federation against the territory of Ukraine provoked intense reactions from the international community. As a result of these reactions, the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) have adopted comprehensive sanctions against Russia. On the other hand, Russia's military blockade of Ukrainian ports prevents grain exports from Ukraine to third countries, particularly to North African countries. This has led to a sharp increase in world grain prices, causing a global food security problem and threat of hunger. Diplomatic initiatives carried out through the UN, particularly by Turkey, have been successful in solving this problem and on 22 July 2022, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the UN signed the "Document on the Initiative for the Safe Shipment of Grain and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian Ports", shortly referred to as the "Grain Corridor Treaty". With this agreement, it is aimed to establish safe routes along the red line drawn through the ports of Odessa, Chornomorsk and Yujniy in Ukraine and to ensure food shipments by utilizing these safe corridors, to reduce global food prices and food shortages by ensuring the safe passage of foodstuffs and especially grain products. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the preparation process, scope and implementation of this compromise text, in which Turkey played an important role.