Erdogan calls on Ukraine to “soften its approach” to grain exports

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on Ukraine to soften its position in negotiations on the resumption of grain exports through Ukrainian Black Sea ports.

“Ukraine should especially soften its approach so that it can take joint steps with Russia,” Erdogan said during a joint press conference with Russian President Putin in Sochi.

He expressed hope that the Black Sea Grain Initiative would be resumed as soon as possible by “eliminating its shortcomings” and announced new proposals prepared in consultation with the UN. Last week, the UN said that it had sent Putin new proposals to resume the initiative.

Putin, in turn, said in Sochi that the West must fulfill Russia’s demands in order for the initiative to work. Putin also confirmed his intention to provide one million tons of grain to African countries through Turkey. Russia promises to provide certain supplies free of charge.

Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticized Russia’s proposal to send grain to Africa. “A handful of donations to some countries will not correct the significant impact that is having on everyone everywhere,” Guterres said in July.

“Obviously, when it comes to taking millions and millions of tons of grain off the market, obviously, based on economic laws, it will lead to higher prices than would be the case with normal access of Ukrainian grain to international markets,” Guterres said.

The White House called the Russian proposal to Africa a “desperate attempt” by Putin to hide the consequences of blocking the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

In July, Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which ensured grain supplies from Ukrainian Black Sea ports. Since then, Russia has also intensified its attacks on Ukrainian agricultural infrastructure, and on the eve of the meeting, Russia conducted new attacks on Ukraine’s port infrastructure on the Danube. These attacks were condemned by the Romanian Ministry of Defense. Representatives of the international community, including the UN and the US, have repeatedly expressed strong condemnation of Russia’s shelling of grain infrastructure in Ukraine.

Ukraine expects Erdogan to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after his talks with Putin. This was stated by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Monday, Reuters reports.

On the eve of the meeting between Putin and Erdogan, Zelenskyy discussed grain exports with French President Emmanuel Macron. They talked about ensuring the security of the corridor, as well as the security of the Odesa region, the Ukrainian president said on social media.

Tags: Ukraine, Turkey, Black Sea grain deal