Ankara: Russian Foreign Minister Sergeyak lavrov started a two-day visit to turkey On Tuesday for talks on unblocking grain exports from Ukrainewhich were stalled by the invasion of Moscow.
An AFP photographer saw the plane carrying Lavrov landed at an airport in the Turkish capital, Ankara.
This is Lavrov’s second visit to Turkey after meeting his Turkish and Ukrainian counterparts Mevlut Kavusoglu and Dimitro Kuleba in Antalya on March 10.
Lavrov was forced to cancel a trip to Serbia on Monday after several of his neighbors blocked his plane from passing through its airspace.
At the request of the United Nations, Turkey has offered its services to escort sea convoys from Ukrainian ports, despite the presence of mines – some of which have been found near the Turkish coast.
Lavrov along with a military delegation will meet with Kavusoglu on Wednesday.
At the heart of the talks is the opening of a security corridor to block Ukrainian grain – especially grain and wheat – in the war-torn country’s ports.
Turkish Agriculture Minister Vahit Kiriski indicated that Ankara and Kyiv Local media reported that an agreement was reached for the purchase of food grains at 25 per cent below the market price.
“But they (Ukrainians) have a dilemma about security and exports. They want us to be the mediator here in the form of Turkey. Talks are on under the auspices of the United Nations,” he was quoted as saying.
“Both Russia and Ukraine trust us.”
Ukraine’s foreign ministry said in a statement that it “appreciates Turkey’s efforts aimed at unblocking Ukrainian ports” but added that “at this point there is no agreement between Ukraine, Turkey and Russia on this point.”
“The decision should be taken with the participation of all concerned,” the ministry said.
“We reject any agreement that does not take into account the interests of Ukraine”, it added, underlining Kyiv’s desire for Western countries to send military support to Ukraine’s coast and from Ukrainian ports to the Black Sea. Plays an active role in escorting convoys going in. ,
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu previously discussed grain exports with Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
“The Ministers of Defense discussed in detail the issues of safety of navigation in the Black Sea in connection with solving the problem of grain exports from Ukraine.”
Lavrov. no meeting with
The Ukrainian Embassy in Ankara denied some media reports of a possible meeting between the ambassador, Vasil Bodnar, and Lavrov.
“That’s not true,” an embassy spokesman said.
“There is no scheduled meeting tomorrow for our side with the Russians.”
Bodnar on Friday accused Russia of “shamelessly” stealing Ukraine’s grain and sending it abroad, including to Turkey.
His argument was supported by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who said reports of Russia stealing Ukrainian grain were “credible”.
Turkey has positioned itself as a neutral mediator between its two Black Sea neighbours, as it maintains a delicate balancing act.
It has provided armed drones to Ukraine but has refused to engage in Western sanctions against Russia.
In a phone call last week, the Russian President Vladimir Putin Told his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Moscow is ready to work with Ankara to free maritime shipping blocked during the war.
Russia’s aggressive and Western sanctions in Ukraine have disrupted supplies of wheat and other commodities from both countries, raising concerns about the risk of shortages and hunger around the world.
Russia and Ukraine produce 30 percent of the global wheat supply.
Dozens of container ships have been blocked in Ukrainian ports surrounded by Russian forces, halting exports of wheat, sunflower oil and other foodstuffs, as well as fertilizers for crops.
Black Sea navigation has also been disrupted by mines held by both Russian and Ukrainian armies.
An AFP photographer saw the plane carrying Lavrov landed at an airport in the Turkish capital, Ankara.
This is Lavrov’s second visit to Turkey after meeting his Turkish and Ukrainian counterparts Mevlut Kavusoglu and Dimitro Kuleba in Antalya on March 10.
Lavrov was forced to cancel a trip to Serbia on Monday after several of his neighbors blocked his plane from passing through its airspace.
At the request of the United Nations, Turkey has offered its services to escort sea convoys from Ukrainian ports, despite the presence of mines – some of which have been found near the Turkish coast.
Lavrov along with a military delegation will meet with Kavusoglu on Wednesday.
At the heart of the talks is the opening of a security corridor to block Ukrainian grain – especially grain and wheat – in the war-torn country’s ports.
Turkish Agriculture Minister Vahit Kiriski indicated that Ankara and Kyiv Local media reported that an agreement was reached for the purchase of food grains at 25 per cent below the market price.
“But they (Ukrainians) have a dilemma about security and exports. They want us to be the mediator here in the form of Turkey. Talks are on under the auspices of the United Nations,” he was quoted as saying.
“Both Russia and Ukraine trust us.”
Ukraine’s foreign ministry said in a statement that it “appreciates Turkey’s efforts aimed at unblocking Ukrainian ports” but added that “at this point there is no agreement between Ukraine, Turkey and Russia on this point.”
“The decision should be taken with the participation of all concerned,” the ministry said.
“We reject any agreement that does not take into account the interests of Ukraine”, it added, underlining Kyiv’s desire for Western countries to send military support to Ukraine’s coast and from Ukrainian ports to the Black Sea. Plays an active role in escorting convoys going in. ,
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu previously discussed grain exports with Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
“The Ministers of Defense discussed in detail the issues of safety of navigation in the Black Sea in connection with solving the problem of grain exports from Ukraine.”
Lavrov. no meeting with
The Ukrainian Embassy in Ankara denied some media reports of a possible meeting between the ambassador, Vasil Bodnar, and Lavrov.
“That’s not true,” an embassy spokesman said.
“There is no scheduled meeting tomorrow for our side with the Russians.”
Bodnar on Friday accused Russia of “shamelessly” stealing Ukraine’s grain and sending it abroad, including to Turkey.
His argument was supported by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who said reports of Russia stealing Ukrainian grain were “credible”.
Turkey has positioned itself as a neutral mediator between its two Black Sea neighbours, as it maintains a delicate balancing act.
It has provided armed drones to Ukraine but has refused to engage in Western sanctions against Russia.
In a phone call last week, the Russian President Vladimir Putin Told his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Moscow is ready to work with Ankara to free maritime shipping blocked during the war.
Russia’s aggressive and Western sanctions in Ukraine have disrupted supplies of wheat and other commodities from both countries, raising concerns about the risk of shortages and hunger around the world.
Russia and Ukraine produce 30 percent of the global wheat supply.
Dozens of container ships have been blocked in Ukrainian ports surrounded by Russian forces, halting exports of wheat, sunflower oil and other foodstuffs, as well as fertilizers for crops.
Black Sea navigation has also been disrupted by mines held by both Russian and Ukrainian armies.