The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin is in talks with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan over the blockade of the Odesa port, and other Ukrainian ports, which has caused real threat to global food security.
The official source says that Russia was ready to facilitate unhindered grain exports from Ukrainian ports in coordination with Turkey.
Western leaders have chided Russia for blockading Ukrainian ports, sending prices of grain and other commodities soaring. The United Nations has said a global food crisis is deepening and has been trying to broker a deal to unblock Ukraine’s grain exports.
Of Putin’s call with Erdogan, the Kremlin said that:
“Emphasis was placed on ensuring safe navigation in the Black and Azov seas and eliminating the mine threat in their waters,”
Further, the Russian President, Mr. Putin have also said that if sanctions were lifted, Russia could export significant volumes of fertilizers and agricultural products, thereby indicating that Russia was deliberately withholding the export of fertilizers as negotiating strategy with the West.
Zelensky also spoke with Erdogan and said they discussed food security and defense cooperation, “and, of course, how to accelerate the end of this war.”
