Shelling of Odesa: Turkey negotiated with Ukraine and Russia

"EUROPEAN PRAVDA" — SATURDAY, 23 JULY  2022, 21:15

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar expressed his concern over the shelling of the Odesa port the day after the signing of the agreement which was supposed to unblock the export of grain through Ukrainian ports.

 His comment is quoted by the Turkish agency Anadolu, writes "European Pravda". 

 Akar said that after information appeared about the missile attack on Odesa, he had a telephone conversation with the Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Oleksiy Reznikov, and the Minister of Infrastructure, Oleksandr Kubrakov, and that he was told that the systems for loading grain trucks had not been damaged. 

 He noted that he also spoke with the Russian side, who claimed that they were not involved in the missile strike and were "investigating the issue."

 "The fact that such an incident happened right after we agreed yesterday on grain exports really worries us. But we will continue to fulfil our obligations under these agreements and we have announced that we are in favour of the parties calmly and patiently continuing to cooperate in this matter," he said. 

 Hulusi Akar signed the agreements in Istanbul on behalf of Turkey.

 By way of reminder, on Friday representatives of Ukraine and Russia signed an agreement at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul on the creation of a mechanism for the export of Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea ports.

Ukraine and Russia did not sign one document - there are two agreements that were signed separately by Turkey and the UN with Kyiv and with Moscow respectively. For the Ukrainian side, the Minister of Infrastructure, Oleksandr Kubrakov, was present at the signing of the agreement, while Russia was represented by the Minister of Defence, Sergei Shoigu.