Russia pulled out of a deal brokered by Türkiye and the United Nations to create a corridor for Ukrainian food exports in early July, accusing the West of blocking its own grain and fertilizer exports.
Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi, Russia on September 4, 2023. Photo: PPO
The deal has kept Ukraine’s grain exports flowing since last summer. But since Russia pulled out of the deal, those supplies have been cut off, with Moscow imposing a blockade and treating Ukrainian ships moving through the waters as military targets.
The Turkish president has called on Russia to lift the blockade, stressing the importance of the deal for food stability around the world . He also stressed that the deal is essential to maintaining security in the Black Sea region.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr Putin told Mr Erdogan: “I know you intend to raise the issue of the grain deal. We are ready to negotiate on this issue.”
“Everyone is waiting to see what will happen in our meeting today. I believe that the message at the press conference after the meeting will be an important step for the whole world, especially for African countries,” Erdogan replied.
Mr Putin has set certain conditions for Russia to return to the deal, including easing Western sanctions on payments, logistics and shipping insurance.
In July, Mr Erdogan said Mr Putin had “certain expectations from Western countries” about the Black Sea deal, adding that it was important for the West to act on the issue.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently sent Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov “concrete proposals” to bring Russian exports to the global market. However, Lavrov said Russia was not satisfied with the proposal.
Hoang Anh (according to AFP, Reuters, DW)
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