Turkey said it had reached a consensus on setting up an “operational center” to deal with grain exports from Ukraine.
Source: Turkish Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun
“We have taken on the role of mediator, and contacts resulted in a consensus to establish an operational center in Istanbul. We hope that the ships laden with the grain will be withdrawn as soon as possible. We attach great importance to the safe execution of this process and the prevention of any accidents.”
He also noted that the Turkish government is “cautiously optimistic” about the prospects for exporting grain from Ukraine.
Altun also spoke about Turkey’s role in the war between Russia and Ukraine: he said Ankara sought to promote “just peace” under any circumstances, criticizing unnamed countries that allegedly advocated a protracted war to deplete Russia.
Last week, a delegation from the Turkish Ministry of Defense held talks in Moscow to unblock Ukrainian grain exports by sea.
According to the Turkish Ministry of Defense, the meeting took place in a “constructive and very positive atmosphere”, and its participants stated that they had reached an agreement on holding quadripartite talks with Ukraine and the UN.
At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine did not confirm this agreement.
See also: Russia and Turkey agreed without Ukraine to unblock the Black Sea for Ukrainian grain exports
