EditTurkey says it has Black Sea grain plan and is in contact with Russia, Ukraine
The Odesa region, home to Ukraine’s ports of Reni and Izmail, has recorded 300 air-raid alerts since the start of August
Turkey has prepared a plan for the safe passage of grain via the Black Sea and is in contact with both Russia and Ukraine regarding it, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Monday.
Turkey has repeatedly expressed willingness to revive a U.N.-brokered deal that got grain out of Ukraine during wartime.
“We have prepared a plan and we are in contact with both sides regarding this plan,” Fidan told a press conference in Istanbul. “If the necessary conditions emerge, we are working in particular to achieve another agreement similar to the grain deal.”
Turkey and the United Nations helped mediate the so-called Black Sea Grain Initiative which was agreed in July 2022 to allow the safe export of nearly 33 million metric tons of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea, despite the war.
Russia withdrew from the agreement in 2023, complaining that its own food and fertiliser exports faced serious obstacles. Since then exports took place along the coastline of Romania and Bulgaria.
Turkish shipowners are warning that escalating attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea could bankrupt companies operating in the region if the war in Ukraine crisis continues.
War in Ukraine threatens to drive Turkish shipowners out of business
Danube bottleneck
In the meantime the queue of vessels waiting to enter the Danube en route to Ukraine’s river ports has grown to about 80 over the past five days, although the number of ships being allowed through the route is also gradually increasing, a shipper said on Monday.
Russian attacks have effectively blocked Ukraine’s main Black Sea ports, which once handled 90% of the country’s grain exports, forcing Kyiv to divert cargo through Danube river ports with far lower capacity.
Shipping agencies last week reported a growing backlog at the entrance to the Sulina Canal, the only Danube channel deep enough for vessels travelling to Ukraine’s ports of Reni and Izmail from the Black Sea.
Delays have been attributed to a shortage of pilots and the need to prioritise certain cargoes, including fuel shipments.
However, traffic through the canal is starting to improve. While only about five vessels a day were entering last week, at least seven are expected to enter on Monday.
“Since this morning, we have received pilots for seven vessels. Around noon, we expect more vessels to enter the canal, after pilots leave vessels which will head out to the open sea,” said Katerina Kononenko from Avalon Shipping.
“In theory, if we can move around 10 vessels into Sulina per day, we should be able to clear the queue of about 80 vessels,” she added.
Kononenko said it could take several weeks to reduce the queue to around 10 vessels.
However, a rise in inbound traffic could create bottlenecks on departures, as more vessels will need to exit through the canal and undergo mandatory inspections, while the number of inspectors remains limited.
More shipments
Officials at Ukrainian railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia said last week that exports via the Danube could increase, although operations continue to be hampered by vessel shortages and frequent air-raid alerts.
The Odesa region, home to Reni and Izmail, has recorded 300 air-raid alerts since the start of August, lasting a combined 238 haours, according to a specialist monitoring service.
Transport workers say entire days can pass without a single grain wagon being unloaded because of the alerts.
Ukrzaliznytsia said it can transport 500,000 metric tons of grain a month to Izmail and Reni. Analyst data showed the volume of grain heading to Danube ports rose 35% over the week.
With Reuters, edited by g.g.
Caption: A farmer collects wheat in a barn for storage during grain harvest in the Kharkiv area, Ukraine, 3 August 2026, amid the ongoing Russian invasion. The Ukrainian Grain Association (UGA) forecasts Ukraine’s 2026 grain and oilseed harvest at 84.6 million metric tonnes (MMT). The estimate is up 1 MMT from the previous forecast, reflecting favorable weather and adequate soil moisture, which have improved the yield outlook for early-sown crops, according to the official UGA web site. EPA/SERGEY KOZLOV
Updated: August 31, 2026 - 18:23
