Before the war, Ukraine’s agricultural exports used to offer a great variety of food grains to Europe. But now, with Russia already in control of the Ukrainian ports, the Russian President has ensured that Ukrainian cargo does not enter into the rest of Europe, thanks to its naval supremacy in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.
Turkey, which is also in desperate need of ‘food grains,’ looked positively towards the west to fulfill its need by setting up a safe corridor. However, Putin has already started fulfilling Turkey’s demands under the sleeve.
Russia transferring grains to Turkey via Syria
Just a few days ago, the Ukrainian embassy in Lebanon launched a scratching allegation against Russia. The embassy claimed that Russia has sent its ally Syria an estimated 100,000 tonnes of wheat stolen from Ukraine since invading the country, describing these shipments as a part of “criminal activity”.
Matros Pozynich, a Russian-flagged vessel was docked at Syria’s main seaport Latakia in late May. As per the data from Refinitiv, a financial market data analyzer, Matros Pozynich loaded wheat at the port of Sevastopol in Crimea and was discharged at Latakia in Syria.
Over 100,000 tonnes of “stolen” Ukrainian wheat arrived in Syria in the last three months, according to the embassy. Such a volume would be worth more than $40 million at current world wheat prices of $400 a tonne.
Matros Pozynich, a Russian-flagged vessel was docked at Syria’s main seaport Latakia in late May. As per the data from Refinitiv, a financial market data analyzer, Matros Pozynich loaded wheat at the port of Sevastopol in Crimea and was discharged at Latakia in Syria.
Over 100,000 tonnes of “stolen” Ukrainian wheat arrived in Syria in the last three months, according to the embassy. Such a volume would be worth more than $40 million at current world wheat prices of $400 a tonne.
In addition, now the Ukrainian foreign minister Vasyl Bodna has pushed Turkey into the debate. Mr. Bodna has stressed, “Russian forces are ‘stealing and sending’ tons of food grains from Crimea to nations outside the country and Turkey is among the nations that are receiving such shipments.”
Vasyl Bodnar’s comments follow Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s announcement that he will shortly visit Turkey.
While the Russian foreign minister travels next week, Turkey hopes to progress on a plan to allow grain shipments from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, and both Moscow and Kyiv seek a solution despite their differences. However, it’s possible that Turkey is also securing its food grains from Russia inside Syria.
Read More: Turkey may not have money, but it does have a plan
Long History of Illegal involvement
Turkey has a long history of being involved in Syrian crops and Ankara never mentions the actual amount of grain intake from the Syrian side. Turkey was charged with stealing Syrian crops in 2021, per the reports. According to the International Trade Center, Syrian exports to Turkey averaged more than $117 million in 2019, a decrease from previous years because Ankara denies publishing data on its Syrian exports.
As a result of Russian shipments to Syria and other countries including Turkey, the chances of a “food corridor” become bleak since Turkey’s demand appears to have already been met. So, The West faces yet another new challenge.
Read More: Turkey spoils the big NATO unification party
Turkey is a really shady country. Why do you think it has vetoed the inclusion of Sweden and Finland in NATO and impressed Russia? The answer is for securing food grains. But, The Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan had also criticized Russia’s invasion and had supplied Kyiv with unmanned Bayraktar TB2 combat drones and other weapons.
It appears that Russian President Vladimir Putin has realized that involving Turkey in a food corridor could make it easier for the west to get food grains. So, Putin fulfilled Erdogan’s demands through a ‘plan B’ so that he can undermine Turkey’s role with the West.
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