ANKARA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to travel to Russia in the near future for talks with President Vladimir Putin about the potential revival of a grain shipping agreement across the Black Sea, Omer Celik, spokesperson for Erdogan’s ruling party, said.
The forthcoming meeting is scheduled to occur in Sochi, a resort city in Russia, and aims to address the prospects of averting an impending “food crisis.”
Omer Celik informed reporters about the anticipated talks, emphasizing Turkey’s commitment to resolving the situation and ensuring a stable food supply. The Bloomberg news agency had previously reported the likelihood of a meeting between Erdogan and Putin on September 8, just before Erdogan’s participation in a G20 summit in New Delhi.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the preparations for the meeting, although specific details regarding the timing and location were not disclosed. Peskov highlighted the intensive nature of the preparations for the dialogue between the two leaders.
Erdogan’s Role in Facilitating Peace Talks Between Russia and Ukraine
President Erdogan has effectively utilized his amicable relations with both Moscow and Kyiv in an attempt to facilitate formal peace negotiations between the conflicting sides. Notably, Turkey played a pivotal role in brokering the sole major agreement reached by the warring parties following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This agreement pertained to the shipment of grain from Ukrainian ports across the Black Sea.
However, last month, Russia disrupted the UN-backed accord by launching repeated assaults on Ukrainian port infrastructure and issuing warnings regarding the potential military targeting of vessels in the Black Sea. In light of these developments, Erdogan is striving to revive the previously negotiated pact, viewing it as a stepping stone towards broader peace negotiations.
Erdogan’s upcoming visit to Russia reflects his diplomatic efforts to stabilize the regional situation and address the pressing issue of grain shipments across the Black Sea, with potential implications for broader peace initiatives in the region.
