Ukraine's Cargo Ship Defies Russian Blockade, Reaches Turkey

The first cargo ship to leave a Ukrainian port under Russian threat has safely reached Turkish waters, marking an important step towards restoring freedom of navigation in the Black Sea. The Hong Kong-flagged Joseph Schulte departed from Ukraine's Odessa port, carrying over 30,000 tons of cargo. Russia's refusal to extend the Black Sea grain deal has led to increased attacks on Ukrainian ports, imposing a de-facto blockade. The ship followed an alternative corridor established by Ukraine to ensure safe passage for civilian vessels. The incident comes amid escalating tensions in the region, with Turkey trying to convince Russia to return to the original deal.