Turkish defense chief urges quick start to new grain shipments from Ukraine

By Faruk Zorlu

ANKARA (AA) – In a phone call, Türkiye’s defense minister on Monday underlined the importance of an immediate start to resuming grain shipments from Ukraine.

During the call, Hulusi Akar told Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov that he was satisfied with Ukraine's announcement that grain shipments will start this week, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said in a statement.

"Türkiye has done and will continue to do its part," it added.

Akar also stressed that work continues "intensively" at a new Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul to carry out inspections of the shipments.

With the mediation of Türkiye and the UN, Ukraine and Russia on Friday signed an agreement in Istanbul on the resumption of Ukraine’s grain shipments from Black Sea ports.

Under the deal, reached on a UN-led plan during talks in Istanbul, the Istanbul coordination center was established to carry out joint inspections at the entrances and exits of harbors, and to ensure the safety of the routes.

Internationally praised for its mediator role, Ankara coordinated with Moscow and Kyiv to open a corridor from the Ukrainian port city of Odesa to resume global grain shipments long halted due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which started on Feb.24.