Turkey has developed a new plan for the passage of grain ships through the Black Sea and is keeping in touch on the matter with both Russia and Ukraine.
This was stated by Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Reuters reports.
“We have prepared a plan and are maintaining contacts on it with both sides. If the necessary conditions arise, we are, in particular, working towards reaching a new agreement similar to the grain deal,” Fidan said.
As is known, in 2022 Turkey, together with the UN, acted as a mediator in concluding the so-called Black Sea Grain Initiative. It was intended to ensure the safe export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea.
After Russia withdrew from the agreement in the summer of 2023, Ukraine launched its own maritime corridor. It operated without Russia’s involvement, without humiliating Russian inspections in Istanbul, and made it possible to export not only grain but also metal and other goods in far larger volumes than during the period when the grain deal was in force.
After withdrawing from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russia began attacking Ukrainian ports both in the Odesa area and on the Danube.
From July 2026, the Ukrainian maritime corridor effectively ceased operating because Russia began striking not only port infrastructure but also ships heading to the ports of Greater Odesa.