Ukraine war: Zelenskyy meets Turkey FM, Russia downs 42 drones over Crimea claim, US F-16 training

Turkey's foreign minister Hakan Fidan met with the Ukrainian president on Friday in a rare visit, the two countries announced.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the meeting on Telegram, saying he mentioned the “risks posed by the Russian blockade of the grain corridor in the Black Sea”.

Russia withdrew from an agreement in July that allowed Ukraine to export millions of tonnes of cereals by sea, despite the fighting. 

Moscow has in recent weeks carried out a series of strikes on Ukrainian port infrastructure in Odesa and on the Danube River, hamstringing Kyiv's ability to send crops overseas.

Ukraine is looking for partners to boost its exports, including via the Black Sea in spite of the newly reinstated Russian blockade. 

Kyiv recently challenged Moscow with the voyage of a cargo ship flying the Hong Kong flag, which was not attacked by Russia despite its threats.

Several attacks by Ukraine on Russian ships, including an oil tanker, have been reported in the Black Sea recently. 

Turkey has long acted as a mediator between the two warring parties, helping broker the grain agreement later abandoned by Russia. 

Relations between Ankara and Moscow were strained after Turkey handed over to Ukraine commanders of the ultranationalist Azov regiment.

Russian President Vladimir Putin nevertheless asked in August for Ankara's support in exporting cereals from a bumper Russian harvest, currently hampered because of Western sanctions.

Moscow claimed early on Friday to have shot down 42 Ukrainian drones in Crimea, describing a massive attack on the illegally annexed peninsula.

It comes a day after Kyiv said it carried out a rare commando operation to land troops on Crimean soil, plant a Ukrainian flag, and inflict casualties on the Russian