Turkey has already proposed a solution to the dispute over Ukraine’s grain exports. Passages in the Black Sea can be created without clearing all the mines, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Wednesday. “As the location of mines is known, corridors can be created in three (Ukrainian, ed.) ports.”
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Cavusoglu said he discussed the plan at a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Ankara last week. More talks with Kyiv and Moscow are needed before an agreement can be reached. A hotline has been set up between the three countries to vote, Turkish TV channel TRT reported.
Russia had already asked Ukraine to clear all sea mines in front of ports. Otherwise, the grain cannot be exported. According to Ukrainian sources, however, this poses a security risk: an estimated 20 million tons of grain are trapped in Ukrainian ports because of the war.
Gazprom wants to keep strangling
Russian gas giant Gazprom announced on Wednesday that it would reduce deliveries to Germany via “Nord Stream 1”. As of Thursday morning, only a maximum of 67 million cubic meters of gas will be pumped through the pipeline every day. The day before, the company announced that it would cap the maximum delivery amount by 40%. This was justified by delays in Siemens Energy’s repair work. The German Federal Network Agency rejected this information. German Economy Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) said the limitation was politically desired. Russia wants to create uncertainty.
Supposedly children in care disappeared
In Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, children are said to have disappeared from homes. The UN Human Rights Council’s investigative commission received information about this during its visit to Ukraine, as reported today in Kyiv.
Commissioner Jasminka Dzumhurin said she was heard that these children would receive Russian citizenship and adoption processes would begin. The Commission itself was unable to examine the reports because it was unable to travel to the occupied territories. But you have to follow the reports. Dzumhurin could not tell how many children there were. She spoke of a “significant number”.
More than 500 civilians at the Asot factory
Ukraine also reported heavy casualties in the east, particularly in Kharkiv and the heavily contested city of Sieverodonetsk. Since the Russians blew up important bridges, the city has been virtually isolated from the rest of Ukraine. According to their own statements, Ukrainian troops are still trying to get the civilian population out of the city.
According to information from Moscow, an escape route was offered to the civilians who were at the Asot chemical plant – but only to pro-Russian controlled territory. In addition to the soldiers, more than 500 civilians sought protection in the plant’s bunkers.
Meanwhile, pro-Russian separatists declared the evacuation a failure because the Ukrainian side was firing mortars and tanks from the factory premises. These statements cannot be independently verified.
Debate: What could lead Russia to peace?
The Russian war of aggression in Ukraine has lasted more than three months. Initial peace talks froze. How should the West’s reactions be assessed so far? What chances does diplomacy currently have? What could lead Russia to peace?
Discuss with debate.ORF.at!