A senior Ukrainian official on Tuesday rebuffed a suggestion by Turkey that Kyiv should soften its stance to revive the Black Sea grain deal, saying Ukraine would not support sanctions relief for Moscow or a policy of “appeasement”.

“Let’s be realistic after all and stop discussing non-existent options, much less encouraging Russia to commit further crimes,” presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters.

He made the remarks when asked about comments made by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Monday after talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Podolyak said that Russia was “extremely interested” in the destruction of Ukrainian seaports and grain transhipment infrastructure.

He said Russia did not need a grain deal and that Moscow was interested in cutting Ukraine off from the global grain market, pushing up grain prices.

“Where is the field for Ukrainian “softening” here?” Podolyak said. “And let us be clear, we will definitely not play the ‘policy of appeasement of the aggressor’... and indulgence in the programme of lifting sanctions.”