Turkey Releases Russian Grain Ship Accused Of Transporting 'Stolen' Ukranian Grain

Russian-flagged cargo ship Zhibek Zholy is seen off the coast of Black Sea port of Karasu, Turkey, July 3, 2022. REUTERS/Mehmet Emin Caliskan/File Photo 

The Guardian: Ukraine summons Turkish envoy after ‘stolen’ grain ship allowed to leave port  

Kyiv protests over ‘unacceptable situation’ as Russian-flagged ship sails from Karasu, where it had been impounded 

Ukraine has summoned the Turkish ambassador after it said Turkey had allowed a Russian-flagged ship carrying what it has claimed was thousands of tonnes of stolen Ukrainian grain to leave the port of Karasu. 

“We regret that Russia’s ship Zhibek Zholy, which was full of stolen Ukrainian grain, was allowed to leave Karasu port despite criminal evidence presented to the Turkish authorities,” said the foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko. “Turkey’s ambassador in Kyiv will be invited to Ukraine’s ministry of foreign affairs to clarify this unacceptable situation.” 

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Update: Ukraine to summon Turkey envoy after Russian grain ship sailed (Reuters)  

WNU Editor: The Ukrainian government is pissed. But considering how important and dependent Turkey is on having good relations with Russia, the release of this grain ship is not a surprise. 

It is also not a surprise that Turkey now wants to change the conversation .... Turkish, Ukrainian top diplomats discuss grain corridor (Hurriyet Daily News).

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan Offers To Mediate In Ukraine's Standoff With Russia

Will Putin (r) give Erdogan a chance to mediate and if so, at what price? 

Reuters: Ukraine hails Turkey drone deal, Erdogan offer to mediate in Russia standoff 

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday welcomed an offer from visiting Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to mediate in Kyiv's standoff with Moscow, and Erdogan promised to do whatever he could to end the crisis peacefully. 

In a move likely to grate with Moscow, Zelenskiy also trumpeted a deal enabling Ukrainian factories to produce Turkish drones that have already been deployed in Ukraine's war against Russia-backed rebels in its eastern Donbass region. 

Turkey and Ukraine, which are maritime Black Sea neighbours, signed a series of agreements including a free trade deal that Kyiv says will boost bilateral annual commerce to about $10 billion over five years from $7 billion now.  

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WNU Editor: I do not see this going anywhere. The Kremlin wants Kyiv to negotiate directly with the rebels in the east. The Kremlin also does not trust Erdogan. 

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan Offers To Mediate In Ukraine's Standoff With Russia  

Erdoğan offers to mediate between Ukraine and Russia -- The Guardian  

Zelensky, Erdogan meet at Mariinsky Palace -- Ukrinform  

Turkey Rules Out Freezing Ukraine Arms Sales to Please Russia -- Bloomberg 

EXPLAINER: A mediating role for Erdogan in Ukraine crisis? -- AP  

Can Turkey's Erdogan mediate a deal between Russia and Ukraine? -- DW