Turkey has received a positive signal from Ukraine and will step up its efforts to restore grain exports via the Black Sea.
This was stated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, European Pravda reports, citing TRT.
According to Erdoğan, security issues in the Black Sea are extremely important for Turkey and the region.
“During talks with the parties, we explain in detail the need to restore the safety of navigation. This will have two benefits: ensuring food security and preventing the war from spreading,” the President said.
Erdoğan stressed that his country is against attacks on merchant vessels in the Black Sea, regardless of who carries them out, and expects “responsible behaviour” from the parties.
The Turkish President added that he had discussed the operation of the grain corridor with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“We have now stepped up our efforts to restore the grain corridor. To that end, we are also accelerating our diplomatic steps. I once again discussed this issue with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine, and the response I received from him was positive,” Erdoğan said.
- In August 2023, Ukraine announced a “humanitarian corridor” in the Black Sea to free ships that had been stuck in its ports after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and to bypass the de facto blockade after Russia withdrew from the deal allowing Kyiv to export grain.
- In October 2024, it was reported that Russia was planning to mine the corridor on the approaches to Ukrainian ports.
- As early as January 2024, the operation of Ukraine’s grain corridor had returned to its pre-full-scale Russian invasion capacity.
- In July this year, Ukraine requested the urgent convening of a UN Security Council meeting over Russian attacks on vessels in the Black Sea. The situation deteriorated to the point that, due to shelling, no ship was able to carry cargo.
- Later, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after a meeting of the coalition of the willing in Kyiv, said they would try to resolve the issue of ending the blocking of Ukraine’s grain corridor through negotiations with Russia. Air defences for the corridor would also be strengthened.