Russia last week vetoed a UN proposal to keep Bab al-Hawa’s passage open for humanitarian aid to Syrian civilians.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to extend authorization for cross-border deliveries of humanitarian aid to Syria.
His call on Monday came as diplomats struggled to find a solution that could overcome Russia’s veto on a system that has kept aid flowing in the war-ravaged country since 2014.
“Erdogan stressed that he attaches importance to the extension of the cross-border mechanism in Syria,” his office said in a statement issued after telephone conversations following the mechanism’s expiration on Sunday.
The Turkish-Syrian border at the Bab al-Hawa crossing is the only way UN assistance can reach civilians without navigating areas controlled by Syrian government forces.
Russia, an ally of the Syrian government, used its veto power on the UN Security Council to overturn Western proposals to keep the border crossing open for another year.
The confrontation took place with diplomatic tensions at historic highs since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
The Security Council has previously expanded the cross-border mechanism after it had expired and several sources said a vote was still possible this week.
Erdogan has tried to take advantage of his good working relations with both Putin and Western-backed leaders in Kyiv to ease tensions.
Cereal shipments
In Monday’s call, Erdogan also urged the Russian president to take steps regarding the UN’s plan to establish safe corridors in the Black Sea for grain exports.
The Turkish leader reiterated that the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine should end with a lasting and just peace through negotiations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that he had held talks with Erdogan about the need to unblock Ukraine’s ports and resume grain exports.
“We appreciate it [Turkish] support. There was talk of the importance of unlocking [Ukrainian] ports and restart grain exports. We must also prevent Russia from taking our grain [occupied territories]He tweeted.
The UN has unveiled a plan to facilitate exports that would allow safe corridors to be established around known mines.
The proposal has garnered limited support in both Moscow and Kyiv.
Ukraine has accused Russia of stealing grain from the country and selling it, while Russia has denied the allegations.
The allegations come amid fears of a global food crisis over Ukraine’s inability to export millions of tonnes of grain through its blocked ports.