Turkish FM to visit Kiev, discuss alternative grain export routes

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
25 Aug 2023 10:26

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan seeks to visit Ukraine to discuss a number of bilateral issues, mainly the grain exports beyond the terminated Black Sea Grain Initiative.

A bird stands on a wheat field as a combine harvests the crops in Cherkasy region, Ukraine, on July 25, 2023 (AP)

A visit to Kiev has been scheduled for Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, who is expected to land in Ukraine later this Friday.

Fidan, who had previously served as the former director of Turkey's National Intelligence Organization, will discuss with Ukrainian counterparts some alternative export routes for Ukrainian grain following the termination of the Black Sea Grain Initiative earlier in July.

Apart from grain exports, Fidan's visit to Kiev is anticipated to focus on a number of bilateral issues, including Ukraine's faltering counteroffensive as well as Turkey's military aid.

Since the grain deal was terminated, Turkey has attempted to mediate Russia's return to the agreement or a new agreement, whilst Ukraine and the US have allegedly engaged in diplomatic attempts to establish alternate export channels, notably through Romania and Moldova.

First cargo ship leaves Ukraine's Odessa after grain deal termination

On August 18, the Marine Traffic tracking service said that the first Ukrainian cargo ship departed the port of Odessa and entered the Bosporus Strait following the termination of the grain deal, and it was heading towards Istanbul port.

At 06:20 GMT, the ship named Joseph Schulte left the Black Sea, and earlier, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov stated that the ship carried 30,000 tons of cargo on board having been docked since February 23, 2022. He noted that it was the first ship that left the Odessa port since July 16.

This is based on the fact that the Black Sea Grain Deal expired on July 18, and Russia did not renew its participation, calling on the West to stick to its word in the deal.

This also comes the same day after Turkey urged Russia to avoid escalating in the Black Sea after an incident involving warning shots at a cargo vessel.

The warning shots were fired at the Palau-flagged Sukru Okan general cargo vessel by Russia's Vasily Bykov patrol ship of the Black Sea Fleet, which was en route to the Ukrainian port of Izmail. The attempt aimed at stopping the ship's movement to inspect it.