Both the Turkish and Ukrainian foreign ministers have stated that there are no better alternatives than the Black Sea grain deal, which was terminated when Russia withdrew last month.
The agreement, which was mediated by Turkey and the United Nations in the previous year, had allowed for the safe export of Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea. Turkey has been making efforts to convince Russia to return to the agreement.
Last week, Ukraine declared a “humanitarian corridor” in the Black Sea to release cargo ships that have been trapped in its ports since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The first vessel to utilize the corridor arrived in Istanbul last week.
During a press conference in Kyiv, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized that renewing the grain deal was a key priority for Ankara, and that Russia’s inclusion was necessary for an effective agreement.
“Reestablishing this initiative is a priority for Turkey… I hope that we will achieve a successful outcome,” he stated, adding that alternative solutions would not be able to effectively replace the deal.
Fidan also remarked, “From the start, I have believed that Russia should be involved in this equation.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba mentioned that Kyiv is exploring other routes, but the Black Sea grain deal remains the most advantageous solution.
“We are exploring alternative routes…but objectively speaking, the functionality of the Black Sea route is the best solution from all perspectives,” he explained.
Kuleba added, “While we will be able to significantly increase the transportation of grain through land corridors, the blockade of the Black Sea must come to an end.”
(Reporting by Anna Pruchnicka, Deniz Uyar, and Max Hunder; Writing by Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Alistair Bell)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
