White House welcomes news of first food shipment to leave Odesa

Speaking to reporters at the White House Monday, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the United States “welcomes” news of the first shipment of food, in this case corn, to depart Odesa. Russia and Ukraine signed agreements in Istanbul with Turkey and the UN on July 22, clearing the way for Ukraine to export 22 million tons of grain and other agricultural products that have been stuck in Black Sea ports because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine more than five months ago.