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Putin, Erdogan agree on coordination for safe shipping — Kremlin

The two presidents agreed on continuing coordination between the defense ministries of the two countries for the purpose of the safe exit of Turkish vessels from Black Sea ports via a maritime humanitarian corridor organized by the Russian side, the Kremlin press office informed

MOSCOW, April 26. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to continue coordination between the defense ministries to ensure Turkish vessels’ safe exit from Black Sea ports through a Russia-organized route, the Kremlin press office reported after a phone talk of the two leaders on Tuesday.

"The leaders agreed on continuing coordination between the defense ministries of the two countries for the purpose of the safe exit of Turkish vessels from Black Sea ports via a maritime humanitarian corridor organized by the Russian side," the press office said in a statement.

The Turkish transport and infrastructure minister said in mid-April that Ankara was in talks with Moscow and Kiev on its ships blocked near the Ukrainian Black Sea coast. Later, Turkey’s foreign minister said that some Turkish cargo ships remained trapped in the Sea of Azov due to drifting mines.

The press office of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) reported on March 19 that the mines set up by the Ukrainian navy at approaches to Black Sea ports could be drifting towards the Bosporus Strait after breaking off cables.