Ukraine, Turkey, Russia set up communication channel on grain exports from Ukrainian ports

As Russian forces blocked major Ukrainian seaports causing massive food crisis, Turkey, Kyiv and Moscow set up an emergency communication mechanism to export grains via Black sea. According to a report by Turkey’s TRT TV channel, communication channel will be handled through ir respective defence ministries. report said a general rank officer will keep a track of operation and will also be used for discussion in case of "conflict of interest". "We are conducting intensive talks both with Russia and Ukraine. Both sides have concerns and we are working on clearing up se concerns. We are counting on this," TV channel quoted Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar as saying.

latest development came after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu held extensive talks on creating a green corridor for safe passage of grain when former visited Ankara last week. During meeting, Cavusoglu noted that transporting grain products through Black Sea and Azov Sea ports - which are currently blocked by Russian forces - to international market by passing through straits would be most reasonable and feasible option, both economically and physically. "When se grain products pass through Black Sea and straits, y will also play a key role in preventing world food crisis," he said.

US rejects Russia's proposal of freeing Ukrainian ports in exchange for lifting sanctions

Notably, major seaports have been blocked in Ukraine since initial days of war. Since n, Ukraine has been exporting grains to whole world by alternate routes. Earlier in May, Russian Foreign Ministry said it would be rey to provide a humanitarian corridor to export Ukrainian crops across Black Sea in exchange for lifting sanctions. However, United States rejected Moscow's proposal of unblocking Ukrainian ports.  

In May this year, World Food Programme (WFP) said up to 20 million people along Horn of Africa are facing severe hunger. Though WFP noted condition was not good even before Russian President Vlimir Putin initiated a brutal war against Ukraine, it stated that situation has worsened as major port that supplies agricultural products to whole world remained blocked by Russian troops. 

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