Türkiye will send grain and other relevant products to African countries in need if Russian exports are allowed through the Black Sea, the Turkish president said on Friday.
Speaking to reporters on the plane after his three-day Balkan tour, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan echoed his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin’s view, saying the Ukrainian grain is exported to wealthy countries, not to those in need.
Türkiye, the UN, Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement in Istanbul on July 22 to resume grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports, which were paused after the Russia-Ukraine war began in February. A joint coordination center with officials from the three countries and the UN was set up in Istanbul to oversee the shipments.
Although not officially part of the deal, it was negotiated that once Russia allows the movement of ships through Ukrainian ports, sanctions on Russian exports will be lifted.
