THE Turkey conducts negotiations with Russia and Ukraine to open one corridor through the Bosphorus for grain exports from Ukraine, a high-ranking Turkish official told Reuters today.
«Turkey negotiates with both Russia and Ukraine on grain exports from UkraineSaid the official, who asked not to be named because the conversations are confidential.
«With the opening of a corridor from Turkey, there is a demand for these grains to reach the markets for which they are intended. Negotiations continue“, The official added.
The office of the president Tayyip Erdogan did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko reportedly stated yesterday, Wednesday, that Moscow is ready to offer a corridor for boats carrying food in exchange for lifting some of the Western sanctions.
Two other people familiar with the matter also confirmed in separate statements that talks were under way to help Turkey export grain by ship from Ukraine. One of these people said that, despite being a member of NATO, Turkey is considered more “neutral” by Moscow than other Western members of the alliance.
«Turkey is ready to contribute to a kind of supervision of these exports from Odessa via the Black Sea because Turkey is traditionally very strong in the Black Sea and they are ready to helpSaid yesterday, Wednesday, a senior European diplomat, who asked not to be named.
Turkey already has two frigates, two submarines and six patrol boats and rapid attack ships in the Black Sea and much more can be developed quickly for a mission, said Yoruk Isik, head of the Istanbul-based consulting firm Bosphorus Observer.
Meanwhile, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterreswho visited Moscow and Kyiv last month, has been in contact with Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, the United States and the European Union trying to mediate what he calls a “Package deal” to repeat both Ukrainian food exports and Russian food and fertilizer exports.
However there are many obstacles to a dealincluding Russian demands to in exchange for some sanctionsthe presence of free mines and the prohibitive costs of insurance on this sea route, point out officials and analysts.
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