Turkish Foreign Minister Says Ankara Is Ready To Host Ukraine-Russia Meetings At Various Levels: As Long As Concerned Parties Are Ready

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. (Twitter/@MevlutCavusoglu)

JAKARTA - The success of the deal on wheat and grains could create an atmosphere of trust between Russia and Ukraine, facilitating efforts to resolve the Ukraine crisis, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday.

According to him, Ankara is ready to do everything to help resolve the conflict, especially by hosting a meeting between Russia and Ukraine at any level.

“Since the beginning of the conflict, Turkey has made active efforts to end it. Now, there is a need to focus on ensuring a ceasefire. This war will end at the negotiating table, and we will continue to do everything possible for it," Cavusoglu said at a news conference after talks with Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili.

“We, on our part, can host talks at any level, at the level of the foreign minister or the leaders [of both countries], as long as the parties are prepared for it. There is no winner in war and no one loses in war," added the top Turkish diplomat.

On the occasion, Foreign Minister Cavusoglu also said the grain deal had removed barriers to grain exports from both Ukraine and Russia.

"We hope that grain exports will run smoothly. The important thing is that the grain is sent to countries that need it most and the coordination center in Istanbul will ensure that," he said.

It is known, that a package of documents aimed at solving the problem of supplying food and fertilizers to global markets was signed in Istanbul on July 22. Under the Russia-UN memorandum, the UN will engage in efforts to lift anti-Russian restrictions that prevent exports of agricultural products and fertilizers.

Another document creates a mechanism for exporting grain from Ukrainian-controlled Black Sea ports. The agreement signed between Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Nations provides for the establishment of a four-party coordination center whose representatives will inspect grain ships to prevent arms smuggling and false flag operations.

A joint coordination center for grain exports was launched in Istanbul on Wednesday.