Erdogan's adviser: Grain from Russian ship can be seized if it belongs to Ukraine

Turkish presidential adviser Ilnur Cevik has stated that if the grain on board the cargo ship "Zhibek Zholy" is proven to be Ukrainian, the Turkish government may confiscate it.

"If the cargo on the Russian ship is illegal, we will seize it and sell it on global markets on Ukraine's behalf," TASS quotes Cevik as saying.

He noted that "the Kremlin is well aware of the rules of the game and knows perfectly well that if they try to take something out illegally, it will be confiscated".

On July 1, it became known that Ukraine asked Türkiye to detain a cargo ship under the Russian flag, which was transporting Ukrainian grain from Berdyansk.

Reuters refers to a letter dated June 30 from the Ukrainian Prosecutor-General's Office to the Turkish Justice Ministry, which states that the ship is involved in the "illegal export of Ukrainian grain" and is being sent with 7,000 tonnes of cargo to the Turkish city of Karasu.