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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov conveyed positive messages after the long-awaited meeting with Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavosoglu in Ankara, focused on efforts to open a corridor to allow deliveries of Ukrainian grain, stranded in the country’s ports since February with Moscow aggression.
The talks come at a time when Turkey itself is facing pressure to open the Black Sea to NATO ships to break Russia’s blockade of Ukraine.
“We are ready to guarantee the safety of ships leaving Ukrainian ports. “We are ready to do this in cooperation with our Turkish colleagues.” said Lavrov.
The Turkish chief diplomat justified Moscow’s demands for an end to the sanctions in order to help unblock the grain and get it to the markets.
“If we are to open the international market for Ukrainian grain or sunflower oil, we see the removal of barriers to Russia’s exports as a legitimate demand.”said Cavusoglu.
Experts say such an agreement avoids the risk of a confrontation between NATO and Russia, given Russia’s strong naval presence in the Black Sea.
But analysts doubt that Russia is committed to easing the grain crisis, and add that Moscow could use the situation to its advantage.
If Ukrainian wheat remains stranded, analysts say Ankara will face increasing pressure to give NATO warships entry into the Black Sea through the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul, which Turkey administers under the Montreux International Convention. .
Ankara is more than aware of Moscow’s desire for Turkey to keep the Bosphorus closed to NATO ships, which gives Turkey a strong lead in talks with Russia.
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