Türkiye intensifies negotiations to restore the grain corridor

Türkiye is stepping up diplomatic efforts to restore the fully operational grain corridor through the Black Sea. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he received a positive signal from Ukraine on this issue after talks with Vladimir Zelensky in New York.

According to Erdoğan, Ankara is accelerating diplomatic contacts aimed at restoring safe shipping and grain transportation. The Turkish president called security in the Black Sea important both for Türkiye itself and for the whole region.

"We have intensified our efforts to restore the grain corridor. We are also accelerating diplomatic steps in this direction. I once again discussed this issue with President of Ukraine Zelensky, and the response received from him was positive," — Erdoğan told reporters after the conclusion of the UN General Assembly events in New York.

The President of Türkiye emphasized that Ankara opposes attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea regardless of which side commits them. According to him, restoring shipping security is simultaneously necessary for global food security and reducing the risk of further expansion of the war.

The day before, Zelensky and Erdoğan did discuss security in the Black Sea and the operation of the maritime export corridor in New York. The Office of the President of Ukraine reported that several options for its full restoration are currently being considered.

Zelensky, however, linked the possibility of such arrangements to the cessation of Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. According to him, if Russia stops such strikes, Ukraine is ready to mirror by refraining from long-range retaliatory attacks.

The Black Sea issue is also part of broader diplomatic discussions around the possible de-escalation of the war. Ukraine has previously stated its readiness to consider proposals to ensure safe shipping, and Türkiye continues contacts with both Kyiv and Moscow.

In 2022, Türkiye, together with the UN, mediated the conclusion of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allowed Ukraine to export food from seaports during the war. Russia withdrew from the agreement in July 2023. After that, Ukraine organized its own maritime export corridor, but its operation remains dependent on the security situation in the Black Sea and Russian strikes on port infrastructure.

Based on materials from: TRT Haber, Office of the President of Ukraine