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Erdogan calls on Putin not to escalate tensions in Ukraine

2023-08-02 14:55:12, Kosova & Bota CNA
Erdogan calls on Putin not to escalate tensions in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Wednesday not to further escalate tensions after Moscow attacked vital grain export facilities from Ukraine with drones.

Erdogan played a key role in brokering the now-broken agreement on the safe export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, and has positioned himself as a mediator in the conflict.

The Turkish leader said that "no step should be taken which would escalate the tensions in the Russia-Ukraine war".

He underlined the importance of the grain agreement, which he called a "bridge for peace", according to a press release from the Turkish Presidency.

The deal, brokered by Turkey and the United Nations, allowed Ukraine to export grain through its Black Sea ports, but ended last month when Moscow withdrew from it.

Russian drone strikes have damaged grain facilities in the Ukrainian ports of Odesa and Izmail overnight, Ukrainian authorities said on August 2.

As a result of the Russian attacks, a grain warehouse, grain silo and other grain warehouses were damaged or destroyed, Ukrainian prosecutors said.

Erdogan told Putin that long-term inaction on the grain deal "will not benefit anyone," and that countries in need would suffer the most, according to the Turkish presidency.

Erdogan also said that grain prices, which fell by 23 percent while the deal was in place, rose by 15 percent in the past two weeks.

He vowed that Turkey will persistently continue "intense" and diplomatic efforts to bring the agreement back into force.

The two leaders also agreed on a Putin visit to Turkey, according to Erdogan's office, which did not indicate a specific date, however./ REL





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