01 July 2022; MEMO: Turkiye can re-export grain products like wheat, oat, and barley from the Black Sea to countries in need after talks with Russia and Ukraine, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday, adding he would discuss the matter with both countries in the coming days, Reuters reports.
Ukraine is one of the top global wheat suppliers, but shipments have been halted by Russia's invasion, causing global food shortages. The United Nations has appealed to both sides, as well as maritime neighbour Turkiye, to agree to a corridor.
Speaking after Friday prayers in Istanbul, Erdogan said his office was working with Kyiv and Moscow to set up calls with his counterparts and that 20 Turkish vessels were ready to take part in the potential shipments.
After talks with the leaders of Ukraine and Russia, "we can send wheat, barley, oat, sunflower oil and all to countries in need by carrying out a re-export through us," he said, adding Turkiye's stocks were "in good shape" for now.
