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Erdogan thanks 'dear friend' Putin as Turkey extends Russia-Ukraine grain deal

The extension came as Erdogan prepares to face his rival in the presidential runoff election on May 28.
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders' summit in Samarkand on September 16, 2022. (Photo by Alexandr Demyanchuk / SPUTNIK / AFP) (Photo by ALEXANDR DEMYANCHUK/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)

ANKARA — Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Wednesday that the Black Sea deal that allows Ukraine, the world’s top grain supplier, to export to world markets would continue. The extension grants Turkish strongman a win, 11 days before the runoff vote against Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

Addressing his party in Ankara, Erdogan said Ukraine and Russia had agreed to extend the deal for two more months. “With the efforts of our country, the support of our Russian friends and the contributions of our Ukrainian friends, it was decided to extend the Black Sea grain corridor agreement for two more months,” he said, describing the deal as “critical” for global food supply chains. 

Erdogan described Putin as his “dear friend” as he thanked Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for the extension. “I would like to express my gratitude to the president of Russia, my dear friend Mr Putin, for his efforts in this process. I would also like to thank President of Ukraine Mr. Zelenskyy for his constructive cooperation. I also thank the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Guterres, for his efforts in the process,” he said.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative ​​was brokered by Turkey and the United Nations last year after the Russian invasion cut off exports from Ukraine, one of the major breadbaskets of the world. The deal, which allayed concerns over a global food crisis as grain prices skyrocketed, has been extended two times since it was agreed on in July 2022.

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