Russia’s withdrawal from the grain deal and prisoners of war were the topics of a telephone conversation between Volodymyr Zelensky and Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Russian editorial office of the BBC claims that the Turkish leader does not consider the issue of the agreement on the Black Sea grain corridor, concluded with his mediation, to be finally broken.
Presidents Ukraine and Turkey, Volodymyr Zelensky i Recep Tayyip Erdoganspoke on Friday by phone about the withdrawal situation Russia from the grain agreement, as well as the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war, especially Crimean Tatars, who were imprisoned by Russia.
Erdogan’s press service reported that he had discussed with Zelensky “the question of extending the agreement on the Black Sea grain corridor.” According to the BBC’s Russian editorial office, this communiqué indicates that Erdogan does not consider the grain deal concluded with his intermediation to have been finally broken.
Zelensky informed about the conversation in a comment on Twitter. “We have coordinated efforts to resume the work of the Black Sea Grain Initiative,” the Ukrainian president wrote. He added that he had asked Erdogan for help in returning Ukrainian prisoners of war, in particular Crimean Tatars, to the country.
Russia withdraws from grain deal
Russia this week withdrew from the concluded via UN and Turkey, an agreement that enabled the safe transport of Ukrainian grain and other food products across the Black Sea for the last year.
Under the agreement, Ukraine exported over 32 million tons of corn, wheat and other grains. According to the UN, thanks to the grain corridor, food prices have been reduced by more than 20 percent. all over the world.
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/IGOR TKACHENKO