Ukraine and its allies have pushed for the reopening of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, which Kyiv says are closed due to the Russian blockade. Western countries have increased their demands to open ports to allow grain shipments, especially to countries in the Middle East and Africa that depend on Ukrainian grain to feed their populations. Erdogan told Putin it was time to act on a UN plan to create safe corridors in the Black Sea for grain exports. He also reiterated that a lasting and just peace must be negotiated to end the war, according to a statement from the government communications office cited by the state-run Anadolu news agency. Zelensky said on Twitter that he appreciated Erdogan’s help in resuming grain exports and added that Russia should also stop taking Ukrainian grain from the occupied territories. Erdogan, who offered to mediate on the grain issue, also discussed the situation with Putin. The Kremlin said the two leaders also discussed economic cooperation and a planned “Russian-Turkish meeting at the highest level” in the near future. No further details were given. The Ukrainian Navy, meanwhile, said it had begun helping facilitate the export of Ukrainian agricultural products. The navy said in a statement that eight foreign ships arrived at Ukrainian ports. He said the aid was possible because Ukraine managed to recapture Snake Island, a strategic outpost in the Black Sea. The statement, which was posted on Facebook, also notes that currently most Ukrainian ports remain blocked and some are occupied. Moscow said it would allow Ukrainian ships loaded with food products to leave if Ukraine’s military demined the waters off Odessa and other ports. But Ukraine says it cannot mine the coast because Russia will “use grain corridors to attack southern Ukraine.” The war and the blockade of Ukrainian ports meant that most of Ukraine’s grain did not go out, causing food shortages in some of the world’s poorest countries. Russia and Ukraine together account for nearly a third of world wheat exports. Many Western countries blame Moscow for food insecurity around the world, but Russia has repeatedly denied responsibility for the problem. From RFE/RL More top reads from Oilprice.com:
