Russian President Vladimir Putin, at his residence in Novo-Ogaryovo, near Moscow, May 28, 2022 (Sputnik/AFP/Archives/Mikhail Metzel)
Russia is ready to work with Turkey on the free movement of goods in the Black Sea, including grain from Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin told his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday.
In a telephone interview, Mr. Putin “stressed that the Russian side is ready to facilitate the unhindered maritime transit of goods, in coordination with Turkish partners. This also applies to the export of grain from ports Ukrainians,” the Kremlin said in a statement.
Maritime traffic in the Black Sea has been disrupted since the start of the Russian military intervention in Ukraine at the end of February.
The export of Ukrainian cereals, in particular, is severely hampered, which has contributed to the worsening of global food insecurity, Kyiv being a major agricultural exporter.
Ukraine and Western countries accuse Moscow of blocking Ukrainian Black Sea ports, which Russian officials deny. Under these conditions, Ukraine started exporting grain from neighboring Romania last month.
Ukrainian forces have also mined the waters near their ports to thwart any attempt to approach by sea. Some sea mines have drifted into Turkish waters.
Russia has repeatedly said in recent days that it could help overcome concerns about a food crisis in exchange for the lifting of sanctions triggered since its offensive in Ukraine.
During his meeting with Mr. Erdogan, Mr. Putin thus reaffirmed that Russia could “export significant quantities of fertilizers and agricultural products if the anti-Russian sanctions were canceled”, according to the Kremlin.
Turkey, bordering like Russia on the Black Sea, has tried to maintain good relations with Moscow, while selling military drones to Ukraine.
© 2022 AFP
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