Recep Tayyip Erdogan warns that expanding the war to the Black Sea would be a "disaster"
The solution to the export of Ukrainian grain to the Black Sea "depends on the countries of the West who must keep their promises," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin, Hotnews reports.
"I think a solution can be found. Last week, during a telephone conversation with Mr Putin, we took note of Russia's demands," Erdogan told the ambassadors' conference in Ankara.
He said that "the solution to this problem depends on the fulfilment of promises by Western countries".
"Measures that would have allowed the positive atmosphere created by the 'Black Sea Initiative' to be transformed into a truce and then a long-term peace agreement have not been taken," the Turkish leader added.
Russia called for the lifting of "obstacles" caused by Western sanctions on Russian agricultural exports.
"If the war spreads to the Black Sea it will be a disaster for our region," the Turkish president warned.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday he was pressing Russia to extend the agreement on grain shipments across the Black Sea by at least three months and announced a visit by President Vladimir Putin in August.
