The Russian Foreign Minister is in Turkey to discuss grain exports from Ukraine

*Paromita Das
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Turkey on Tuesday for a two-day visit to discuss the unblocking of grain exports from Ukraine. Food and grain exports from Ukraine are currently hampered by Russia’s ongoing invasion. Ukraine is known as the “breadbasket of Europe,” and stalled grain exports are likely to cause a global food crisis.

Lavrov was forced to cancel a visit to Serbia on Monday after several of the country’s neighbors refused to allow his plane to fly through their airspace.

Turkey has agreed to provide services to escort maritime convoys from Ukrainian ports, in response to a request from the United Nations.
Mines can be found in the waterways. Some have been discovered near the Turkish coast.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is accompanied by a military delegation and is scheduled to meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Wednesday.

This is Lavrov’s second trip to Turkey. He met Cavusoglu and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on March 10.

The negotiations will primarily revolve around the establishment of a security corridor to transport grains from Ukraine.

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Turkish Agriculture Minister Vahit Kirisci hinted at an agreement between Ankara and Kiev, according to local media. “However, they (Ukrainians) face a security and export dilemma. They want Turkey to be the arbitrator here. Under the auspices of the United Nations, negotiations continue “He was reported to have said.

“Both Russia and Ukraine have faith in us.”

In a statement, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it “appreciates Turkey’s efforts to unblock Ukrainian ports,” but added that “for the time being, there is no agreement on this point between Ukraine, Turkey, and Russia.”

“Decisions must be made with the participation of all parties involved,” said the ministry.