Russia and Turkey are negotiating grain exports

Created: 07/11/2022, 20:45

By: Nadja Austel

Putin and Erdogan spoke on the phone about grain exports from the UK.

(Archive image) © picture alliance/dpa/EPA |

Alexey Nikolsky / Sputnik / Krem

Grain that the world urgently needs is stored in Ukraine.

Russia and Turkey are looking for an agreement in the export conflict.

Moscow/Ankara – Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke in a phone call about the conflict over grain exports from Ukraine.

Turkey's Presidential Office said on Monday (July 11) that the United Nations must implement its plan for a grain corridor across the Black Sea.

The international community has been demanding that Russia allow the export of Ukrainian grain for weeks.

The Ukrainian government complains that the Russian Navy is blockading its Black Sea ports.

Both countries are among the largest wheat exporters and play an important role in global food security.

The United Nations has already warned of the worst famine in decades.

Russia and Turkey: There is talk of a "meeting at the highest level".

After the phone call, the Kremlin said it was also about economic cooperation between the two countries.

A "Russian-Turkish meeting at the highest level" is also planned for the near future.

Details were not given.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted later in the day that he too had spoken to Erdogan about ways to unblock ports and resume grain exports.

Russia had recently signaled its willingness to talk about grain stocks, which could not be exported since the start of the Ukraine war at the end of February.

However, Moscow vehemently denies that it is preventing wheat exports and thus endangering world food security.

On the other hand, many Western politicians and Ukraine itself clearly hold Russia responsible for the situation, as well as for the start of the war.

The situation in Syria is discussed between Turkey and Russia

According to both sides, Putin and Erdogan also discussed the situation in Syria.

Head of state Erdogan has spoken out in favor of extending the aid mechanism across borders, according to Ankara.

The regulation, which expired on Sunday (July 10), had enabled the United Nations to bring important relief supplies to parts of Syria that are not controlled by the government.

However, the United Nations Security Council was unable to agree on extending the mechanism.

On Friday (July 8) Russia vetoed a draft resolution that would allow it to be continued for another year.

A counter-resolution by Russia, according to which the Bab al-Hawa border crossing should remain open for another six months, also failed to find a majority in the Security Council.

(na/dpa)