Turkey is ready to act as an arbiter of grain exports from Ukrainian seaports blocked by the Russian navy, with Ukraine agreeing to give Turkey a 25 percent discount on the purchase of agricultural products in exchange for mediation to restore maritime trade.
Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Minister Vahit Kirişci made a statement to the Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak on Tuesday regarding the creation of a "grain corridor.
According to him, a meeting of representatives of Turkey, Ukraine, Russia and the United Nations (UN) will take place in Istanbul on June 8, where the issue of the Black Sea shipping in a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine will be discussed.
At the same time, Kirişci said in a commentary to the publication that Ukraine is concerned about a possible attack by Russian ships after the start of commercial shipping in the Black Sea, and it needs guarantees of safe exports of crops from other countries.
"As Turkey we say to Ukraine: 'You can take out these products, Russia will not attack you when the corridor opens,'" the newspaper quoted the minister as saying.
Kirişci also reported on negotiations with Russia on the terms of a possible "grain corridor."
"We told Russia, 'Don't attack until this food is delivered. Keep your word, too. Ukraine will take this product out because the world needs this trade, we say. So we are trying to be a bridge between the two countries," the minister specified.
He also said that negotiations on the terms of exports of Ukrainian grain are continuing, and there is already an agreement with Ukraine to reduce the cost of grain in Ukrainian ports for Turkey on the terms of delivery FOB (delivery of goods before loading on board the ship).
"They (Ukraine ) have agreed to give us a 25% discount on FOB. However, they have a dilemma related to the safe export of the product. They want Turkey to be their arbiter. Both Russia and Ukraine trust us alone," he clarified to the Turkish publication.
According to his information, the meeting on June 8 in Istanbul will be "exploratory talks" in the matter of resumption of grain exports from Ukraine.
