Despite Russia stopping its participation in a grain deal mediated by the UN, a move that has increased fears for countries in need of food aid, Turkey says it is adamant that Ukraine continue its food exports.
After what it claimed was a significant Ukrainian drone strike on its naval fleet in occupied Crimea, Russia terminated the agreement on Saturday. Moscow’s decision didn’t stop cargo ships from leaving port with 354,500 tonnes of grain, the most grain sent out in a single day since the programme started in August.
Turkey, which aided in negotiating the accord, remained dedicated to it.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, declared: “We will continue resolutely our efforts to serve humanity even if Russia responds tentatively because it didn’t enjoy the same benefits.”
Hulusi Akar, the Turkish defence minister, suggested to Sergey Shoigu, his Russian counterpart, that Moscow reconsider its decision to suspend its participation.
The grain agreement should be carried out independently of the war in Ukraine, Akar said Shoigu during a phone chat between the two ministers, according to Turkey’s defence ministry.
The UN representative in charge of the initiative, Amir Abdullah, stated: “Civilian cargo ships can never be used as a military target or held prisoner. Food must be served.
On Monday, Russia referred to the passage of shipping via the Black Sea security corridor as “unacceptable.”
The command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Ukrainian leadership exploit the security corridor to conduct military operations against the Russian Federation, thus the movement of ships along it is undesirable, according to a statement from the Russian defence ministry.
Until the Ukrainian side accepts extra commitments to refrain from using this route for military objectives, it is impossible to ensure the security of any object in the stated direction under the current circumstances.
But Russia emphasised that it was simply postponing its participation in the agreement, not leaving it.
What Russia would do if ships continued to travel the route was not stated by the ministry.
Although Ukraine claims Russia’s fleet is a legitimate military target, it has neither confirmed nor denied carrying out the attack on the Crimean base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
According to Moscow, a wave of air and sea drones was to blame for the explosions.
Grain exports that had been interrupted due to the fighting were able to resume when Russia and Ukraine signed the grain agreement in July.
