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Turkiye details UN plan for grain exports without de-mining Ukraine ports

June 15, 2022 at 2:32 pm

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (R) shake hands after a news conference in Ankara, on June 8, 2022 [ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images]

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu today detailed a UN plan to create a sea corridor from Ukraine for grain exports, saying safe routes could be formed without needing to clear the mines around Ukrainian ports, Reuters reports.

His comments appeared to mark a shift from an earlier proposal to de-mine Ukraine’s ports, a move that Kyiv fears would leave it far more vulnerable to Russian attack from the Black Sea.

Cavusoglu discussed the plan with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Ankara last week, but said further discussions with Moscow and Kyiv were needed. Lavrov then said that the onus was on Ukraine to clear mines around its ports for commercial ships to approach.

Speaking to reporters, Cavusoglu said it would “take some time” to de-mine Ukraine’s ports and that a safe sea corridor could meanwhile be established in areas without mines under the UN proposal, adding that Ankara was still awaiting Moscow’s reaction to the plan.

“Since the location of the mines is known, certain safe lines would be established at three [Ukrainian] ports,” he said. “These [commercial] ships, with the guidance of Ukraine’s research and rescue vessels as envisaged in the plan, could thus come and go safely to ports without a need to clear the mines.”

READ: Turkiye FM says Russia, Ukraine ‘close to agreement’

Russia’s 24 February invasion of Ukraine halted Kyiv’s Black Sea grain exports, helping to cause a global food crisis. The United Nations has appealed to the two sides, as well as to their maritime neighbour and NATO member Turkiye to agree a corridor.

Moscow denies responsibility for the food crisis, blaming Western sanctions.

Turkiye has the second biggest army in NATO and a substantial navy. It also has good relations with both Kyiv and Moscow, and has said it is ready to take up a role within an “observation mechanism” based in Istanbul if there is a deal.

Turkiye’s state broadcaster TRT Haber said a hotline had also been created between Turkiye, Ukraine and Russia. Over the hotline a general from each country can take part in talks to “discuss the issue more closely and reach a result”, it said.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine could lead to bread shortages across parts of the Arab world - Cartoon [Sabaaneh/Middle East Monitor]

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could lead to bread shortages across parts of the Arab world – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/Middle East Monitor]