May 2022:  Suspension of negotiations with Russia

As the Russian invasion raged on, delegations from the two countries held four face-to-face meetings - three in Belarus and one in Turkey - to try to reach a ceasefire.

Then, on March 29, Ukrainian and Russian delegations met at the Presidential Dolmabahçe Working Office in Istanbul.

The Russian delegation said the talks were "constructive" and that it would convey Ukraine's proposals to President Vladimir Putin, while Turkey was among the countries Ukraine wanted as guarantors.

However, after Russian forces withdrew from the capital Kyiv and Bucha, accusations of 'war crimes' were leveled against them, especially over civilian deaths in Bucha, and talks between the two countries broke down.

On May 17, the Ukrainian side issued a statement saying that "the situation in the country has changed so much that they have suspended negotiations with Russia."

June 2022: Towards a grain corridor agreement

In June, the first steps of the grain corridor planned to be established in the Black Sea with the mediation of Turkey and the United Nations (UN) in order to transport grain from Ukrainian ports to the world market were taken.

On June 8, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who arrived in Turkey, met with his counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu at the Presidency. The two held a joint press conference after the meeting.

July 2022: Grain Corridor Agreement was signed

The Grain Corridor Agreement was signed on July 22. Officials from Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, and the UN met at the Presidential Dolmabahçe Office in Istanbul and signed the "Document on the Initiative on the Safe Transportation of Grain and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian Ports."