NEW DELHI: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for Russia to be an integral part of talks regarding the revival of a significant deal for the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea.
President Erdogan made this appeal during a press briefing following the conclusion of the G20 summit in New Delhi. He emphasized, “No process that marginalizes Russia on the Black Sea grain initiative will be viable.”
In his announcement, Erdogan revealed that a forthcoming meeting would convene representatives from Russia, Ukraine, and the United Nations to address this issue. However, specific details regarding the date and location of this meeting were not provided.
The grain deal, originally brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, aimed to ensure the safe passage of civilian ships through the Black Sea. The agreement collapsed when Russia withdrew its participation in July.
Since then, Moscow has been accused of repeatedly targeting Ukraine’s port infrastructure. Kyiv asserts that these actions represent a cynical attempt to disrupt its exports and undermine global food security.
Erdogan’s Efforts to Revive Black Sea Grain Deal
Most recently, a Russian drone attack struck a grain export hub located on the Danube River. Official reports confirmed damage to warehouses and agricultural equipment in the area.
Following this incident, Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Erdogan met in Sochi, fostering hope that the two leaders could work towards restoring the grain export agreement.
Ahead of their meeting, Erdogan had hinted at making a “very important” announcement concerning grain exports. During their joint televised appearance, Putin expressed openness to negotiations on this matter, saying, “I know you intend to raise the issue of the grain deal. We are open to negotiations on this issue.”
