Ukraine counts on Türkiye's active participation and leadership in ensuring food security, as well as on assistance in further involving the Global South in this work, First Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko said during talks with Turkish Minister of Trade Omer Bolat in Istanbul.

"We hope to strengthen and develop the strategic partnership between Ukraine and Türkiye in all areas. We hope for Türkiye's active participation and leadership in the food security component, as well as assistance in further involving other countries, in particular the Global South, in this work," the press service of the Ministry of Economy quoted her words.

Svyrydenko noted that, through joint efforts, shipping in the Black Sea was restored and exports through this corridor in territorial waters were significantly increased. "Türkiye is already a de facto hub for the supply of our grain to other countries. Through Türkiye, for example, we sent ships with grain to African countries, in particular, 25,000 tonnes to Nigeria and 15,000 tonnes to Sudan," the Deputy Prime Minister said and expressed hope for Türkiye's further active participation in the Grain from Ukraine initiative.

According to her, the full restoration of navigation safety in the Black Sea is a common interest of Ukraine and Türkiye. The restoration of ferry service between the ports of Ukraine and Türkiye should become another important element for strengthening food security.

The parties paid attention to bilateral trade and the introduction of a free trade area after the ratification of the Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and Türkiye. The relevant decision has yet to be made by the Ukrainian parliament.

"The implementation of the free trade area should harmonize mutual trade, simplify logistics, facilitate the entry of more Ukrainian and Turkish producers into the markets of our countries, and open up new prospects for the implementation of common economic projects between the countries. After the ratification of the agreement, all Black Sea coastal countries, with the exception of Russia, will be united into a single economic space," Svyrydenko explained.

The parties discussed the possibility of attracting investments from Turkish private businesses to the restoration of Ukraine, as well as providing Turkish investors in Ukraine with affordable insurance against war risks and export guarantees.

In addition, attention was paid to preventing the circumvention of the imposed sanctions using Turkish companies. Ukraine expects Türkiye to continue to take measures to block the supply of dual-use goods that Russia uses for military purposes.

"It is important for us to continue joint efforts to eliminate loopholes that undermine the sanctions policy against Russia. We also discussed with our Turkish colleague the issue of Russia's illegal export of more than 4.5 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. We ask the Turkish authorities to take appropriate measures to stop the import or transit of stolen Ukrainian grain through Türkiye. Ukraine also insists that measures be taken against the companies, vessels and their owners involved in this," Svyrydenko emphasized.