Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Ankara, the Turkish capital, this Tuesday (7) to talk about the creation of sea corridors through the Black Sea to enable the resumption of grain trade.
Lavrov will join his Turkish counterpart, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, on a two-day visit. At the request of the UN, Turkey offered to escort naval convoys from Ukrainian ports, despite the presence of mines, some of which were detected off the Turkish coast.
Negotiations revolve around grain exports blocked at Ukrainian ports. Ukraine is one of the world’s leading wheat exporters.
Turkish Minister of Agriculture, Vahit Kirişçi, implied to the Turkish press that an agreement was reached with Ukraine for the purchase of grain “25 percent below the market price”.
“Both Russia and Ukraine trust us,” Kirisci said on Tuesday, according to several Turkish newspapers. Said.
According to the Turkish minister, “Ukraine is currently protecting its commercial ports with mines” and fears an attack from Russia if it withdraws these defenses.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Ankara last Friday accused Russia of “shamelessly” stealing and exporting Ukrainian grain to Turkey and other countries via the 2014 annexed Crimea.
Turkey is an ally of Ukraine, where it supplies fighter jets but tries to maintain a neutral position towards Russia, on which it depends for energy and grain supplies.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is hampering most exports via the Black Sea and has led to higher prices in agricultural markets.
source: Noticias
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