Turkish, Ukrainian ministers discuss grain shipments

ANKARA

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov on Friday discussed over phone the latest developments on grain shipment from the war-torn country.

Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine signed in Istanbul a deal last week to reopen three Ukrainian ports – Odesa, Chernomorsk, and Yuzhny – for grain exports stuck for months due to the Russia-Ukraine war, which is now in its sixth month.

According to the agreement, a Joint Coordination Center was established to carry out inspections at the entrances and exits of harbors, and to ensure the safety of the routes.

Akar and Kubrakov said technical work is nearing completion and shipment is expected to start at the earliest, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Both ministers also voiced their satisfaction over cooperation and coordination at the center in Istanbul.