Cargo ships loaded with grain and other agricultural products left Ukrainian ports despite Russia's decision to pull out from a landmark deal designed to ease a global food crisis.

As one of the brokers of the grain deal, Turkey has stepped up diplomacy with the two warring countries in a bid to save it as Russia warned that continuing to enforce the agreement without its participation would be "dangerous".At least 10 ships including the Ikaria Angel - chartered by the World Food Programme and loaded with 30,000 tonnes of wheat destined for emergency response in the Horn of Africa - left Ukrainian ports on Monday, according
to a website that tracks marine traffic.

In all, 12 ships were due to leave Ukrainian ports on Monday and four more were due to head to the country, according to the Joint Coordination Center (JCC) that has been overseeing the agreement brokered by Turkey and the UN. The marine traffic came two days after Russia notified the UN and Turkey that it was suspending its participation in the grain agreement, after Moscow accused Ukraine of a "massive" drone attack on its Black Sea Fleet in Crimea.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP