Reuters-By Tuvan Gumrukcu
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu attend a news conference as they meet in Ankara, Turkey June 8, 2022. REUTERS/Umit Bektas
ANKARA, June 8 (Reuters) – Turkey’s foreign minister said on Wednesday a United Nations plan to ease a global food crisis by restarting Ukrainian grain exports along a sea corridor was “reasonable”, and required more talks with Moscow and Kyiv to ensure ships’ safety.
Speaking alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Turkey’s Mevlut Cavusoglu said their meeting in Ankara was fruitful, adding Turkey’s latest contacts and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s recent statements showed there may be a basis for a return to talks.
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But Ukraine’s ambassador to Turkey accused Russia of putting forward unrealistic proposals, such as checking vessels. read more
Lavrov said the onus was on Ukraine to solve the grain shipments problem by clearing mines from its Black Sea ports and that Russia needed to take no action because it had already made the necessary commitments. read more
“We state daily that we’re ready to guarantee the safety of vessels leaving Ukrainian ports and heading for (Turkish waters), we’re ready to do that in cooperation with our Turkish colleagues,” he said after the talks with Cavusoglu.
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Ukraine’s foreign ministry, however, dismissed as “empty words” Lavrov’s assurances that Moscow will not use the situation to its advantage if Kyiv allows grain shipments to leave safely via the Black Sea.
Ukraine has said it needs “effective security guarantees” before it can start shipments, voicing concerns that Moscow could use the potential corridor to move on its southern port of Odesa.
Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine halted Kyiv’s Black Sea grain exports, threatening a global food crisis. The United Nations appealed to the two sides, as well as maritime neighbour and NATO member Turkey, to agree a corridor.
Moscow denies responsibility for the international food crisis, blaming Western sanctions.