Erdogan / Cereal crisis: ‘I will talk to Putin and Zelensky next week’
The Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has announced that he will hold talks in the coming days with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts to discuss possible measures to ensure the transport of cereals via the Black Sea.
The Head of State of Turkey spoke on Sunday at a meeting with the youth of Van, in the east of the Türkiye.
After discussing a number of internet policy issues, including the upcoming elections in 2023, Erdogan looked back at the food crisis caused by the war between Russia and Ukraine.
For several weeks, Ankara has been trying to offer a solution to both sides in order to unblock the situation concerning the transport of wheat and other cereals stuck in the Black Sea ports.
The main obstacle to the Turkish project seems to be the presence of many navies in the Black Sea, and Ankara is trying to propose solutions that both sides could accept.
“Next week, we will discuss with Mr. Putin and Zelensky to define the measures that could be applied [for the creation of a grain corridor],” he said.
The Turkish president wanted to reassure. “Our stocks contain more than 5 million tons of wheat.”
However, Türkiye’s efforts to allow the transport of Ukrainian wheat and cereals in particular ‘are in the interests of third countries.
Erdogan stressed that the economic crisis is not only affecting Türkiye, “but the whole world”.
He also criticized Greece’s hostile policy toward Türkiye, including the creation of military bases in the Aegean.
“When asked who these bases are against, they say it’s against Russia. How can we trust the West? They said that in Ukraine, too. But what have they done to help Ukraine against the Russians?” he lashed out.
