(ANSA-AFP) - ANKARA, JUL 31 - A spokesman for the Turkish
presidency said there was a "high probability" that a first ship
carrying Ukrainian grain could leave Ukraine's port of Odessa on
Monday. That is despite Russian missiles hitting the city in the
wake of the July 22 agreement on shipping grain between Russia,
Turkey, the UN and Ukraine. "There is a strong possibility that
a first ship could leave tomorrow morning if everything is
sorted out by this evening," Ibrahim Kalin said in an interview
with Kanal 7 television Sunday. But Kalin said there were still
"one or two subjects to be settled in the negotiations with the
Russians". "Preparations have reached a point to allow the ships
to leave the port of Odessa. The ships have been loaded, they
are ready to leave, but we need good logistical coordination,"
he said. The resumption of exports was also discussed in talks
between the Turkish and Ukrainian defence ministers, Ankara said
Sunday. "It is planned to begin transport as soon as possible,"
the Turkish ministry said in a statement. (ANSA-AFP).
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