Ships under Turkish flag to continue goods exports from Ukraine: MoD

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Bulk carriers flying the Turkish flag will continue to transport agricultural products from Ukraine through the grain corridor, according to Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar.

"As of yesterday, ships that left Ukrainian ports and are at sea continue on their way. There are no problems with the exit of ships under the Turkish flag. They will continue to leave," Akar's press service quoted him as saying.

Kiev responded in writing to Moscow's concerns about the grain deal, according to Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar.

Akar said on Tuesday morning he had a separate talk with Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov and Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov.

"We shared both our views and the concerns of Mr. [Sergei] Shoigu. Our Ukrainian interlocutors made statements that related to these concerns both during their meetings with us and during meetings of official persons at the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul. They were also handed over to us in writing," Akar's press service quoted him as saying.

Earlier today, following Moscow's suspension of the historic grain agreement, the Turkish President called his Russian counterpart to express his "confidence" that the issue of grain exports from Ukraine could be resolved.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan informed his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, that he was "confident" there is a way out of the grain crisis using "a constructive approach," the Turkish presidency said.

He claimed that resolving the matter might spur action toward restarting talks between Russia and Ukraine on a ceasefire.

After accusing Kiev of launching a "massive" attack on Moscow's Black Sea Fleet in Crimea on Saturday, Moscow announced that it has indefinitely suspended its participation in a July agreement to export grain from the country's war-torn countryside.

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