Russia, Türkiye agree to restore grain export without Ukraine

Russia and Türkiye have discussed preliminary agreements to restore the export of agricultural products through the Black Sea.

However, they did not coordinate their plans with Ukraine, RBC-Ukraine reports, referring to Bloomberg.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has offered that Türkiye may help clear the seacoast near Odessa of mines and accompany Ukrainian grain ships.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is expected to discuss the plan during talks in Ankara on June 8, 2022.

“Specialists are already leaving for Türkiye today, tomorrow my delegation is heading there. I hope that we will be able not only to put an end to it, this has to be done by our leaders, but we will be able to thoroughly work out the options that Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke about,” Lavrov said.

The plan between Russia and Türkiye envisages the clearance of the sea of mines and the guarantees for the safe passage of ships under the UN auspices. Moscow, for its part, wants to inspect merchant ships to equip them with weapons.

Ukraine did not take part in the negotiations.

“While speaking in advance about reaching agreements, Russia is trying to shift responsibility to Ukraine. However, the food crisis was only artificially created by Russia,” Ukrainian Deputy Economy Minister Taras Kachka said.