Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that the solution to the flow of Ukrainian grains into the Black Sea “depends on Western countries, which must keep their promises”.
“The solution to this problem depends on Western countries fulfilling their promises. No measures have been taken that would have made it possible to turn the positive atmosphere created by the Black Sea Initiative into a ceasefire and then into a lasting peace agreement,” the Turkish head of state accused during a speech at the ambassadorial conference in Ankara.
“I think a solution can be found,” he added, referring to the recent telephone contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who refused to renew the agreement, which expired on July 17, guaranteed by the UN and Turkey.
“Last week, during our phone conversation with Putin, we became aware of Russia’s demands,” he said, without giving further details.
In addition to the United Nations, Turkey was one of the facilitators of the Black Sea Initiative, an agreement signed in Istanbul in the summer of 2022 that allowed the export of grain by sea from Ukrainian ports. The agreement was suspended in mid-July following Moscow’s unilateral withdrawal.
Russia suspended the agreement after months of criticism of the agreed text, arguing that its shipments of agricultural products and fertilizers were blocked by Western sanctions imposed after its invasion of Ukrainian territory in February 2022.
“Our position is clear,” Erdogan insisted, urging Putin last week to “avoid escalation.”
“If the war spreads to the Black Sea, it will be a disaster for our region,” Erdogan predicted.
The Russian military offensive on Ukrainian territory, launched on February 24 last year, plunged Europe into what is considered the most serious security crisis since World War II (1939-1945).
The Russian invasion – justified by Russian President Vladimir Putin with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russia’s security – was condemned by the international community at large, which reacted by sending weapons to Ukraine, and political and political economic sanctions against Russia.
Source: DN
