Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in a phone call on Monday that Ankara places “special importance” on efforts to establish a safe corridor for the export of agricultural products. Ukraine’s industry by sea, said one Turkish.
On Friday, Zelensky said That 22 million tons of grainwhich accounts for nearly half of Ukraine’s grain exports, is being held back by Russia’s blockade of key export routes through the Black Sea and Sea of Azov.
Erdogan told Zelensky, according to the report, that Turkey has made every effort to continue the negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv and is ready to provide further assistance, including reconciliation.
Erdogan also told the Ukrainian leader that, in principle, Turkey would welcome the accession of a possible monitoring center in Istanbul with the participation of Ukraine, Russia and the United Nations.
Erdogan also spoke to Putin on Monday: According to the Kremlin’s announcement of Monday’s phone call between Russian Presidents Vladimir Putin and Erdogan, the Russian leader said Moscow would support “unhindered” grain exports from Ukrainian ports.
The two leaders had a “thorough” discussion on “the topic of bilateral cooperation, mainly in the field of trade and economy”, the Kremlin said.
“When discussing the situation in Ukraine, emphasis is placed on ensuring safe navigation in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov,” it added.
According to the Kremlin, Putin conveyed Russia’s “willingness” to “facilitate the unimpeded movement of maritime cargo in coordination with Turkish partners”, and said. added that this stance “applies to grain exports from Ukrainian ports.”
Russia is also ready to “export a large amount of fertilizers and agricultural products” if sanctions against the country “are lifted”, Putin added, according to a statement from the Kremlin said on Monday.
According to a Turkish reading of the call between both leaders, Erdogan suggested hold talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United Nations in Istanbul.
CNN’s Anna Chernova and Niamh Kennedy contributed reporting to this post.
