On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Russia’s resort of Sochi for talks on the revival of the Black Sea grain deal.
“The message to be conveyed to the world (on the Black Sea Grain Initiative) after our meeting is a step towards underdeveloped African countries, which will be essential,” Erdogan said before his first face-to-face meeting with Putin since October last year.
Putin stressed that his administration will not resume the grain deal for now because the West continues to block the access of Russian agricultural products and fertilizers to the international market.
“We are not against this agreement. We are ready to resume it immediately as soon as the promises” made to Russia to allow the export of its products are fulfilled, the Russian leader reiterated at a press conference after three hours of meeting with Erdogan.
Retired #US Army colonel Douglas A. Macgregor:
�� “Washington knows #Ukraine is close to collapse. The Russians have become much better than they were a year and a half ago. They’re probably the best army in the world. Make peace you fools!”#TheyAboutUs pic.twitter.com/wPdJE3icFK
— Russia in South Africa ���� (@EmbassyofRussia) September 4, 2023
They also discussed bilateral relations and regional issues. “Currently, the trade volume between Türkiye and Russia is US$62 billion. We are very glad that we are taking steps towards the target of reaching US$100 billion,” Erdogan said.
Türkiye has tried to revive the Black Sea Grain Initiative by acting as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine.
The agreement, which had been brokered by Türkiye and the United Nations in July 2022 in Istanbul, encountered a setback when Russia decided to withdraw from it on July 17, alleging unfulfilled obligations by its counterparts.
Ankara says that Western countries should try to address Russia’s complaints and that it hopes Russia would return to the deal.
