Moscow’s reaction to the seizure of a Russian cargo ship by Turkey

According to Fars International News Agency, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the situation of the seized Russian cargo ship in Turkey needs further investigation.

He said these words after a joint press conference with Venezuela’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Rafael Faria. It appears that this ship is actually Russian and under the Russian flag. The cargo of this ship was under the contract between Estonia and Turkey. We have to specifically investigate this matter.

The ship seized by Turkey was a Russian-flagged ship carrying 7,000 tons of grain that left Berdiansk port on the Black Sea on Thursday. Ukraine asked Turkey to seize the ship. Kyiv claims that the grain in this ship belongs to Ukraine.

“The attempt to create this artificial crisis is unacceptable,” Lavrov continued. There is no problem for our grain and chemical fertilizer exports except for the challenges created by Western sanctions.

The Turkish Customs Department confirmed the seizure of a Russian ship on Sunday evening.

The Turkish Customs Department announced that it is likely that this Russian ship is carrying Ukrainian grain, but added that no decision has been made regarding this ship yet.

“The investigation is still ongoing,” said a source who asked not to be named. That’s all I can say for now.”

It was on Saturday evening that the Reuters news agency, citing the Ukrainian ambassador in Ankara, reported that Turkish customs seized a Russian cargo ship carrying Ukrainian grain.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu promised earlier in a press conference attended by the British Foreign Minister that Turkey will investigate the allegations regarding the theft of Ukrainian grain by Russia.

This senior official of Ankara stated: Turkey takes seriously the allegations of theft of Ukrainian grains by Russia and is investigating these allegations. He added that Turkey does not allow grain stolen by Russia or any other country to be brought to Turkey.

The end of the message.