ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a phone call to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, urging him not to further escalate tensions in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The call comes after Moscow struck facilities vital for grain shipments from Ukraine, which has disrupted the grain trade in the region.
Erdogan played a key role in brokering the now-collapsed deal that allowed safe passage for Ukraine’s grain shipments on the Black Sea. As an intermediary in the conflict, he stressed the importance of the grain deal as a “bridge for peace” and called for restraint to prevent further escalation in the Russia-Ukraine war.
The accord, brokered by Turkey and the United Nations, allowed Ukraine to export grain through its Black Sea ports. However, the agreement ended last month when Russia withdrew from it. In response, Russia targeted port infrastructure in Ukraine’s southern region of Odesa, causing damage to grain elevators, silos, and warehouses used for grain exports since the collapse of the deal.
Erdogan Urges Putin to Reactivate Grain Deal
Erdogan emphasized that the long-term inactivation of the grain deal would have negative consequences, particularly for countries in need, as grain prices have increased by 15 percent in the last two weeks. He vowed to continue “intensive efforts” and diplomacy to re-establish the agreement and restore stability to the grain trade.
During the call, Erdogan and Putin also discussed the possibility of Putin’s visit to Turkey, although no specific timetable was provided.
