Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said that “work on the grain agreement has begun and soon we will hear about the departure of the first ship from Ukrainian ports, and we are working on a safe plan for transporting grain, and ships will be inspected inside. Ukrainian ports”, noting that “representatives of Turkey and the UN will be present during the inspection of ships in Ukraine, and representatives of Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the UN are working on the withdrawal of the first ship.

In a TV interview, he explained that “Ukrainians will guide the ships through the safe passages of mines, and the goal of the Coordination Center in Istanbul is to ensure the passage and inspection of the ships in such a way that they do their work without hindrance”, noting that “the work of the bread agreement will continue for 120 days, and if no one objects to this, the work will continue.”

Akar stressed that “vessels loaded with grain will sail safely in the Black Sea towards Istanbul, and there are currently no obstacles to the grain agreement, and we expect the countries to fulfill their obligations”, noting that “Turkey has always insisted on humanitarian truce between Russia and Ukraine, and we are talking to them about help.” He added: “We are working on a fuel transport agreement, similar to the grain agreement, which contributes to the solution of the global crisis.”