ANKARA (Reuters) – Kyiv’s ambassador to Ankara claimed on Friday Turkish consumers were among people obtaining grain that Russia stole from Ukraine, incorporating he has sought Turkey’s support to recognize and seize individuals accountable for the shipments.

Russia and Ukraine account for just about a 3rd of worldwide wheat materials, even though Russia also greatly exports fertilizer and Ukraine corn and sunflower oil. But Ukrainian grain shipments from its Black Sea ports have stalled considering the fact that Russia invaded, with some 20 million tonnes of grain caught.

Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar said Russia was transport the stolen grains out of Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, and extra Kyiv was operating with Turkey and Interpol to discover the culprits.

“Russia is shamelessly stealing Ukrainian grains and having it out from the invaded Crimea. These grains are currently being transported to overseas nations around the world, which includes Turkey,” he told reporters in Ankara.

“We have built our appeal for Turkey to support us and, upon the recommendation of the Turkish aspect, are launching criminal situations regarding those people thieving and selling the grains,” he said.

The Ukrainian Embassy in Ankara later mentioned the vessels that ended up associated in the stolen grains shipments ended up the Nadezhda, Finikia, Sormivskiy, Vera, and Mikhail Nenashev ships. Reuters was not equipped to independently confirm the embassy’s promises.

The Ukrainian embassy in Beirut advised Reuters this 7 days Russia had despatched its ally Syria some 100,000 tonnes of stolen wheat.

The conflict has fueled a world food stuff crisis, prompting the United Nations to pitch the system to re-open up transport routes from Odesa and other Ukrainian ports.

(This tale refiles to regulate translation in paragraphs a single and four to demonstrate grains staying transported not marketed)

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu Editing by Jonathan Spicer)

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