Turkey's Fidan says no solution without Russia to grain deal impasse

ANKARA — Turkey’s top diplomat Hakan Fidan dismissed on Friday Kyiv’s offers to ship Ukrainian grain without an agreement with Russia, saying any option that excludes Moscow would "likely endanger security." 

Speaking at a joint presser with his Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil, Fidan also said Turkey and the United Nations are on the same page on the issue.

“There are efforts on the Ukrainian side to bring alternative solutions. As Turkey, we frankly believe that Russia should be brought back to the table again. We believe any solutions other than that will be far fetched and will highly likely endanger security,” Fidan said. 

His remarks came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tabled on Monday an alternative solution to ship foodstuff from his country to world markets via Romanian, Bulgarian and Turkish waters in the Black Sea. Following the offer, Moscow designated northwest and southeast of the Black Sea as “temporarily dangerous” for shipping. 

Turkey's Fidan said United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is in agreement with Ankara's approach. “During our conversation with UN Secretary General Guterres [on Tuesday], we agreed on this point,” he said.

The deal that allowed Ukrainian grain to reach global markets expired on Monday, after Moscow announced that it would not extend the accord until the conditions it tabled are met. Russia is seeking the loosening of banking sanctions and the ability to ship its fertilizer before returning to the deal. 

Fidan said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov explained in detail their reasons for withdrawing from the deal during the duo’s phone conversation on Wednesday.

“Along with the UN, we are working on what can be done to bring Russia back to the table and to meet its demands,” he said. 

More than 35 countries rely on Ukraine, which is known as the world's breadbasket, according to the World Food Program (WFP). Global grain prices are on the rise after the Russian move to withdraw from the deal, with the international community warning against potential famine in impoverished communities that already face hunger. WFP is among the top buyers of grain as part of its food-assistance program for impoverished communities across the world, particularly in Africa.

Fidan also warned that the ramifications of a potential failure could be disastrous.

“Global food security will be in great danger. Fluctuations in food prices will seriously affect the economies. Famine will become even more serious, particularly in nations that are already suffering from malnutrition,” Fidan said. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed ways to resume the deal with his Ukrainian counterpart Zelenskyy on Friday, the Turkish presidency said.