Turkish, British, Ukrainian defense chiefs discuss Ukraine

By Sarp Ozer

BRUSSELS (AA) – Turkish, British, and Ukrainian defense chiefs met on Thursday to discuss the latest situation in Ukraine, as well as the transportation of grain from the in-war country to the rest of the world.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar met with British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace and his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Reznikov on the sidelines of the NATO Defense Ministers Meeting in Brussels to discuss regional defense and security issues, as well as the latest developments in Ukraine, facing war from Russia that started on Feb. 24.

They also discussed the safe transportation of grain to Türkiye and other parts of the world through ships and A400M aircraft.

Up to 25 million tons of grain are currently stuck in Ukraine, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who recently stated that he is seeking a secure corridor for Ukrainian ships to carry it out to ease food shortages in some regions of the world.

Ukraine can export its grain through safe corridors that can be opened from its ports, without needing to engage in a time-consuming demining effort, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters in the Turkish capital Ankara on Wednesday.

Food-laden ships are currently unable to leave Ukrainian ports due to blockades of areas off the coast of the southern port city of Odessa, causing a global grain crisis. Sea mines placed around the port have exacerbated the situation.

"According to the UN's latest plan, it would take a certain amount of time to clear these mines. Since the locations of the mines are known, safe corridors will be established to the three ports (in Ukraine),” he added.

Under such a plan, ships would have safe access to the ports and will be guided by Ukrainian search and rescue vessels, he said, adding that ships entering the safe zone would be searched.

Ankara keeps an eye on maritime activities in its territorial waters in light of the ongoing war and restricted access for Russian warships to its waterways.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar