In a telephone conversation, the presidents of Turkey and Ukraine discussed the extension of the agreement on the export of agricultural products

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky held a telephone conversation on July 21 and discussed the extension of the agreement on the export of agricultural products from the Black Sea ports. The Press Office of the Presidential Palace of Turkey announced this call and emphasizes Turkey’s commitment to work towards ensuring peace.

The Black Sea region has long been an arena of competition between Russia and the West. With the escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, control of the Black Sea has become a crucial issue. The Black Sea is an important strategic passage and Turkey has significant influence in the region with its control over the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus. The Montreux Convention gives Turkey the power to limit military traffic in the strait in wartime, a power it used last year during the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Russia has prioritized the Black Sea as the main element of its security strategy and has created military capabilities in the region. After the conflict with Ukraine, the warships of the NATO countries could not enter the Black Sea, and it is reported that the warships of the Ukrainian fleet were destroyed. With the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet based in Sevastopol, Russia has absolute control over strategic routes in the Black Sea, including surface ships, submarines and aviation capabilities.

The recent expiration of the Black Sea Port Agricultural Products Export Agreement has raised concerns about the future prospects of the regions grain transit channel. In response, Russia warned ships sailing to Ukrainian ports and assessed them as potential military cargo carriers. The Russian military has strengthened its control over the Black Sea strategic passage by seizing and inspecting ships going to Ukrainian ports.

In terms of Ukraine’s influence on the region, Odessa port plays a decisive role. It is the main port for grain exports under the Sinotrans agreement and also serves as the main launching point for the Ukrainian military’s control over the Black Sea. The Russian military’s targeting of Odessa with several airstrikes has led to speculation about the sensitive materials and military potential stored there. It has placed military facilities and equipment in important Black Sea ports such as Ukraine and Western Odessa, making it a target for Russian airstrikes.

According to Russian military experts, strikes on the infrastructure of the port of Odessa are aimed at destroying the combat capability of the Ukrainian army and preventing foreign intelligence agencies, such as Britain, from operating in the area. The Russian army also targeted Ochakov and Nikolayev ports with military infrastructure. The latest strikes are indicative of a high-intensity attack on various military infrastructure in Odessa.

The telephone conversation between Erdogan and Zelenskiy expresses the importance of cooperation and dialogue between regional actors regarding the stability and security of the Black Sea regions. As the future of the Black Sea Grain Canal remains uncertain, it is crucial for all parties involved to find a peaceful solution and ensure the free movement of goods and ships in the region.

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