Ukraine and Turkey Say Black Sea Grain Deal Must Be Resumed

The foreign ministers of Turkey and Ukraine said on Friday that besides the Black Sea grain deal, other solutions for exporting Ukrainian grain would not be very effective. Hakan Fidan, in a joint press conference with Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv, stated, "Resuming the aforementioned agreement is a priority for Ankara, and Moscow must be part of any effective equation." He expressed hope for the success of efforts to revive this agreement, stating that other alternatives would not be very effective. Dmytro Kuleba also noted Kyiv's attempts to utilize other alternatives, stating that the Black Sea grain deal is the best solution in all respects. Kuleba emphasized, "We can significantly expand grain transportation through land corridors, but the blockade of the Black Sea must end." The Black Sea grain deal, signed last year with the mediation of Turkey and the United Nations between Kyiv and Moscow, allowed for the safe export of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea. Ankara has been trying to convince Moscow to reinstate this agreement in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Ukraine announced the establishment of a "humanitarian corridor" in the Black Sea to free cargo ships trapped in its ports since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24 of last year. The first ship to utilize this corridor arrived in Istanbul last week. Russia targeted Ukrainian grain silos in airstrikes, and three people were injured following Russian drone attacks on the port city of Odesa. Ukraine announced the opening of a "humanitarian corridor" for civilian ships in the Black Sea. Ukrainian attacks on the Russian port city in the Black Sea aimed at the "main export center of Russia." Russian attacks on Ukrainian grain storage facilities resulted in the downing of 23 Shahed drones. Russian drone attacks targeted grain storage facilities in Odesa.