Grain exports from Ukraine critical for humanity: Turkish president

Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Türkiye aims to bring Russian, Ukrainian presidents together to resolve crisis

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) - Grain exports from Ukrainian ports to the world are critical for humanity, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday.

"Even the start of sending Ukrainian grain to the world through our country is a critical development for humanity," Erdogan said after the Cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara.

He said everyone can witness that Türkiye has made every effort to ensure peace between Russia and Ukraine.

"Our aim is to bring together (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy in our country, hopefully in the not-too-distant future,” to resolve the crisis, he added.

Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine signed an agreement in Istanbul on July 22 to resume grain exports from the Ukrainian Black Sea ports of Yuzhny, Chornomorsk and Odesa, which were halted due to the Russia-Ukraine war, now in its sixth month.

A Joint Coordination Center (JCC) with officials from the three countries and the UN has been set up in Istanbul to oversee the shipments.

Kaynak: