Russia and Turkey on Wednesday voiced support for the creation of a safe maritime corridor in the Black Sea so Ukraine can export grain to global markets amid an escalating world food crisis. Turkey’s foreign minister said a U.N. plan to ensure the restart of shipments was reasonable and requires more talks with all sides to ensure ships would be safe.
Turkey is involved in efforts for the establishment of the U.N.-led mechanism that would free Ukraine’s Black Sea ports and allow as much as 25 million tons of grain sitting in silos to be shipped out. Turkey would facilitate and protect the transport of the grain in the Black Sea, officials have said.
Ankara, which has good relations with both Kyiv and Moscow, had previously said it is ready to take on a role within an “observation mechanism” based in Istanbul if a deal is reached.
Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu hosted his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Ankara for discussions focused on the proposal.
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