A Russian-flagged ship reportedly carrying thousands of tons of stolen Ukrainian grain was allowed to leave the port of Karasu, Turkey. Turkish officials had previously seized the ship at Ukraine’s request.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko said Ukraine has summoned the Turkish ambassador to explain the situation.
He said: “We regret that the Russian ship Zhibek Zholy, which was loaded with stolen Ukrainian grain, was allowed to leave the port of Karasu despite criminal evidence presented to Turkish authorities.
“The Turkish ambassador in Kiev will be invited to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry to clarify this unacceptable situation.”
Turkish customs officials seized the ship on Tuesday after Kiev said the cargo was illegally carrying 7,000 tons of grain from Russian-occupied Berdiansk, a port in southeastern Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed that the ship was flying the Russian flag, but added that the Kremlin is also seeking clarification.
He said on Monday: “The ship does fly under the Russian flag, but I think it belongs to Kazakhstan and the cargo was carried on a contract between Estonia and Turkey.”
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It comes just days after Turkish and Ukrainian military officials met in Ankara to discuss grain export shipments.
The opening of a “grain corridor” in the Black Sea, the evacuation of two Turkish Air Force A-400 M heavy transport aircraft waiting in Kiev, and allegations that Russia is trying to transfer the grain allegedly appropriated from Ukraine to the to transport global markets via Turkey were on the agenda, the Hürriyet daily reported.
Turkish and Russian military delegations met in Moscow last month as part of efforts to get grain-loaded ships out of Ukraine.
Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and the UN are in talks about creating a food corridor from Ukraine to world markets.
Following the Turkish-Russian talks, a Turkish trade ship departed from Ukraine’s Mariupol port, which is now under Russian occupation.