Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu spoke by phone with Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and they discussed the security of navigation in the Black Sea in connection with the issue of grain exports from Ukraine, the Russian ministry said on Tuesday.
"The Turkish side initiated telephone talks on June 7, 2022 between the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Sergey Shoigu and the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Turkey Hulusi Akar," the statement said.
It said the talks focused on an exchange of opinions about the situation in Ukraine and Syria.
"The Ministers of Defense discussed in detail the issues of safety of navigation in the Black Sea in connection with the solution of the problem of exporting grain from the territory of Ukraine," the ministry said.
The ministers highlighted the importance of continued close cooperation in Syria to maintain long-term stability in the region. Russian-Turkish contacts on these issues will continue, the ministry said.
Shoigu and Akar last spoke by phone on May 2.
