Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, expressed optimism today, Tuesday, that a solution could be reached regarding the implementation of the Ukrainian grain export agreement, after Russia announced the suspension of its participation in the agreement.
The Turkish presidency said that Erdogan held telephone talks with Putin on the agreement to export grain from Ukrainian ports, and informed him that Ankara would make efforts and communicate with all parties to solve problems related to the implementation of the grain deal.
She added that the Turkish president assured his Russian counterpart Turkey's confidence in establishing cooperation aimed at finding solutions for shipping grain from Ukrainian ports.
In the conversation, Erdogan said that his country continues to take the necessary initiatives with all parties to solve problems related to the implementation of the Istanbul Grain Shipping Agreement.
For its part, the Kremlin said that Putin briefed Erdogan on the reasons for Russia's decision to suspend the grain deal.
The Kremlin added that it was necessary to conduct a detailed investigation into the Kyiv attack on ships in Sevastopol, Crimea.
Moscow had accused Kyiv of launching a drone attack on the Russian fleet in Crimea via the sea lane to transport grain from Ukraine.
After announcing the decision to suspend Russia's participation in the grain deal, the Russian Defense Ministry said it could not guarantee security in the region until Kyiv agreed not to use the road for military purposes, a charge Ukraine denies.
However, the ministry did not specify what Russia would do if ships continued to sail through this corridor, and stressed that Russia did not withdraw from the agreement, but only suspended it.
Ukraine and its Western allies criticized the Russian decision, accusing Moscow of deliberately exposing the world to a food crisis.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country would continue to implement the programme, which was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July, and aims to maintain the flow of food supplies to global markets.
Agreement implementation continues
After the Russian decision, ships carrying grain shipments continued to sail from Ukrainian ports, despite Moscow's warning that it did not guarantee their safety.
The United Nations said that 3 ships left Ukrainian ports at noon today, Tuesday, under the agreement to export grain through the Black Sea, after 12 ships sailed from the port of Odessa on Monday.
She added that talks are continuing with Russia, Ukraine and Turkey to resume participation in the coordination center for the grain export agreement.
international initiatives
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian stressed his country's readiness to communicate and cooperate with all parties on the Ukrainian grain export issue.
The Chinese spokesman said that his country had proposed an international initiative in this regard.
For his part, French President Emmanuel Macron said today, Tuesday, after a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, that Russia was "harming global food security" with its decision to suspend the implementation of the grain export agreement.
The agreement has so far allowed the export of about 10 million tons of Ukrainian grain stuck in ports since the start of the Russian war on Ukraine on February 24.