Erdoğan: Poor African nations to receive grain shipments from Ukraine first

Impoverished nations in Africa will be given priority regarding new grain shipments from Ukraine, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stressed in his speech while addressing ruling AK Party members during a weekly parliamentary meeting on Wednesday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had suggested prioritizing countries including Somalia, Djibouti and Sudan, Erdoğan told his party members in parliament. The Turkish leader added that he agreed with the idea.

Ankara's diplomatic efforts helped convince Moscow to return to the grain deal, the Turkish leader said.

"Following our call with Mr Putin yesterday, Russian Defence Minister Shoigu called our Defence Minister Hulusi Akar to say that grain shipments will continue as previously planned starting from 12 o'clock today," he said.

The Turkish Defence Ministry later confirmed that shipments had started at noon (0900 GMT) as promised.