Grain agreement – Putin and Erdogan will start negotiating again on Monday

So there is a de facto naval blockade, although the departure of two cargo ships from southern Ukrainian Black Sea ports was reported on Friday. To continue the agreement, the Russian government sets conditions. This includes Western guarantees that they too can export grain and fertilizer without hindrance. Ahead of the negotiations, the Turkish government stressed that the agreement is important for the world’s secure food supply.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that Putin and Erdogan would begin talks Monday afternoon in the Russian city of Sochi. The foreign ministers of the two countries had previously negotiated. The NATO state of Turkey has repeatedly offered itself as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia, mainly because Erdogan had a good relationship with Putin for a long time. Recently, however, relations are said to have cooled somewhat.

Here you will find an infographic about the Grain Agreement.

Again more attacks on ports
For example, the Turkish government supplies weapons to Ukraine, but does not support Western sanctions against Russia. The Russian army has repeatedly attacked ports and grain silos in the neighboring Black Sea country. Since the refusal to renew the agreement, these have increased. The deal on Ukrainian grain exports was reached in July 2022 with the mediation of the United Nations and Turkey.

Nearly 33 million grains had been exported.