Article author:
Reuters
Ukraine is in talks with Turkey and the United Nations to ensure grain exports from Ukraine's ports, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday.
"In fact, we are in talks with our representative, who is responsible for the safety of grains leaving Turkey and the United Nations (and) our port," Zelensky said with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Anderson. We talked together at a press conference.
"This is very important to ensure the safety of this country or its ships, except for Russia, which we do not trust. Therefore, to load food. We need the safety of the ships coming here. "
Mr. Zelensky said that Ukraine is" directly "cooperating with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guteres on this issue, and the organization" It plays a leading role, not as a moderator. "
News reports indicate that such talks will soon take place in Turkey in the coming weeks.
Ukraine, one of the world's leading grain exporters, has accused Russia of blocking the movement of ships, and Zelensky said that 22 million tonnes of grain are currently stagnant, and about more. He said a harvest of 60 million tonnes is expected. autumn.
Russia denies blocking grain movement and states that Ukraine has blamed the lack of movement, partly because of mining operations at its port. increase.
Ukraine has also accused Russia of stealing grain from its warehouses and taking it to Russia-occupied areas, Russia itself, or other countries.
Turkish officials said on Monday that they were investigating Ukraine's allegations that Turkey had moored Russian-flagged cargo ships along the Black Sea coast and carried stolen grain.
(Report by Ronald Popeski, edited by Bill Berkrot)
