Turkish FM discuss Black Sea grain deal with his Russian counterpart

The two ministers discussed the latest developments regarding Ukraine and the Istanbul grain agreement, which was established last summer to facilitate grain exports from Ukrainian ports.

Lavrov and Fidan also discussed the return of Mariupol defenders to Kyiv. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Lavrov emphasized to Ankara the potential destructive consequences of continuing to supply military equipment to the Kyiv regime.

During Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent visit to Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed his willingness to extend the agreement on the safe transit of Ukrainian grain for an additional three months, instead of the initial two-month period. The current grain supply agreement is set to expire on July 17th, and its continuation is crucial for Ukraine's agricultural exports.

However, the Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday stated that it does not consider it feasible to continue the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The ministry said that the initiative has not achieved its goals and that it is not possible to guarantee the safety of ships transporting grain from Ukrainian ports.

The announcement by the Russian Foreign Ministry comes as a blow to efforts to alleviate the global food crisis, which has been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. Ukraine is a major exporter of wheat and other grains, and the blockade of its ports has prevented millions of tons of grain from reaching global markets.

The continuation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative is seen as one of the most important ways to get grain out of Ukraine and help to avert a global food crisis. The agreement has allowed for the safe transit of more than 30 million tons of grain since it was first implemented in July 2022.

However, the Russian Foreign Ministry's announcement casts doubt on the future of the initiative. It remains to be seen whether Turkey and other countries involved in the agreement will be able to find a way to convince Russia to continue participating.

The announcement by the Russian Foreign Ministry is also a sign of the growing tensions between Russia and the West over the war in Ukraine. The war has had a significant impact on global food security, and the Russian Foreign Ministry's announcement is likely to further strain relations between Russia and its allies. (ILKHA)