Turkey's Erdogan makes no headway in getting Russia back to Ukraine grain deal
Turkey’s Erdogan says he will continue diplomacy to bring Putin back to the grain deal and announces Putin will come to Turkey, but gives no timeframe.
The Kremlin showed no signs of returning to a critical Black Sea grain deal that allows Ukrainian grain to be exported to world markets, following a phone call Wednesday between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
Erdogan pledged, nonetheless, to continue “intense diplomatic efforts” to salvage the deal abandoned by Russia two weeks ago.
"President Erdogan expressed the importance of refraining from steps that could escalate tensions during the Russia-Ukraine war, emphasizing the significance of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which he described as a bridge of peace," a brief statement from Turkey’s Communication Directorate said after the two leaders’ phone conversation.
President @RTErdogan spoke by phone with President Vladimir Putin of Russia.
— Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye (@trpresidency) August 2, 2023
The two leaders agreed on President Putin’s visit to Türkiye.
Thanking his counterpart for the two amphibious fire-fighting aircraft Russia has sent for Türkiye’s fight against wildfires, President…
Erdogan told Putin that a long period of “inactivity” regarding the deal would benefit no one. “[He] pointed out that grain prices, which decreased by 23% during the implementation period, have increased by 15% in the last two weeks,” the Turkish readout said, adding that low-income countries were affected the worst.
