KYIV: Turkiye’s foreign minister on Friday met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with an aim to revive a deal with Russia permitting the safe passage of grain across the Black Sea.
The Turkish foreign ministry has released images of Hakan Fidan shaking hands with Zelensky.
Earlier there were reports that the discussions would focus on the UN and Turkiye-brokered grain agreement.
Zelensky said many important issues were discussed in the meeting particularly the Russian blockade of the Black Sea grain passage.
Amid escalated tensions with Ukraine, Moscow last month pulled out of a deal brokered by Turkiye and the UN, in 2022 ensuring safe passage for Ukrainian grain exports.
Erdogan asks wets to keep pledges to revive grain deal
Earlier Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan had said the revival of grain deal depends on Western nations to keep their pledges.
At least 500,000 people from both Russia and Ukraine have lost their lives and tens of thousands are injured in the 18 months war.
Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu had earlier claimed that the resources of Ukraine’s armed forces had been almost exhausted.
The situation remains highly delicate in the area, with both sides engaged in military actions. The ongoing developments underline the complex geopolitical landscape in the region.
