Zelenskyy oversees loading of ship for what would be first grain export from Ukraine since start of war

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has visited a port in southern Ukraine to oversee grain being loaded for export onto a Turkish ship, the presidency said on Friday, following a deal with Russia brokered by the U.N. and Turkey.

“The first vessel, the first ship is being loaded since the beginning of the war. This is a Turkish vessel,” Zelensky said, according to a statement from the presidency.

Video footage from the Chornomorsk port released by the presidency showed him in front of a ship called the Polarnet.

The statement said exports could start in “the coming days” under the plan aimed at getting to world markets millions of tons of Ukrainian grain stranded by Russia’s naval blockade.

“Our side is fully prepared. We sent all the signals to our partners — the U.N. and Turkey, and our military guarantees the security situation. The minister of infrastructure is in direct contact with the Turkish side and the UN. We are waiting for a signal from them that we can start,” Zelenskyy was quoted as saying.

The presidency said the export of grain will begin with several ships that were already loaded when Russia invaded in February but unable to set sail due to the start of the war.

The deal to lift Russia’s blockade — the first significant accord involving the two warring sides since the assault began — is aimed at helping mitigate a global food crisis that has seen prices soar in some of the world’s poorest nations.

Ukraine — one of the world’s top grain exporters before the war — says it aims to export some 20 million ton of produce, worth some $10 billion, under the plan.

“It is important for us that Ukraine remains the guarantor of global food security,” Zelenskyy, who was escorted by ambassadors from the G7 nations, said in the statement.