Russia, Turkey Back Plan to Export Grains; Ukraine Doubtful

Russia, Turkey Back Plan to Export Grains; Ukraine Doubtful
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (R) and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov shake hands during their meeting in Antalya, Turkey, on March 10, 2022. Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP
The Associated Press
Updated:

ANKARA, Turkey—Russia and Turkey voiced support Wednesday for a safe corridor in the Black Sea to allow Ukrainian grain exports, but Kyiv rejected the proposal, saying it was not credible. The European Union accused Moscow of “weaponizing” food supplies to gain an advantage in the war.

Russia also demanded Ukraine remove mines from the Black Sea, and both Moscow and Ankara said the West should ease sanctions on Moscow to allow the export of Russian grains amid an escalating world food crisis. While food exports are technically exempt from the sanctions, Russia claims that restrictions on its ships and banks make it impossible to deliver its grain to global markets.