Russia won’t renew grain deal until demands met, Putin tells Erdogan

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reaffirmed that Russia will only consider rejoining the United Nations-brokered grain deal to safely transport Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea if the West addresses Moscow's demands regarding its agricultural exports. This statement comes following a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi, where the two leaders aimed to revive the agreement seen as essential for global food supplies, particularly in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

Putin had previously refused to extend the grain deal in July, citing issues with a parallel agreement that was supposed to remove obstacles to Russian exports of food and fertilizer. Russia argued that restrictions on shipping and insurance were hindering its agricultural trade, despite record wheat exports in the past year. He reiterated these concerns and emphasized that the Black Sea corridors should not be used for military purposes. However, he mentioned that if these commitments were met, Russia could return to the deal within days.

Erdogan expressed optimism that a breakthrough could be achieved soon, noting that Turkey and the United Nations had prepared a new package of proposals to address Russian concerns. He urged that the initiative should continue by addressing the deal's shortcomings.

Experts have highlighted that the failure to revive the agreement would have severe consequences for several African countries that heavily rely on Ukrainian and Russian grain. In response, Putin announced that Moscow is on the verge of supplying free grain to six African countries, intending to begin deliveries within the next few weeks.

Despite the hopes of convincing Putin to return to the Black Sea grain deal, Turkey and the United Nations continue to work on potential solutions. Erdogan has maintained close ties with Putin throughout the Ukraine conflict, serving as both a trading partner and logistical hub for Russia. However, Turkey has also supported Ukraine and its bid to join NATO.

The outcome of the Sochi meeting has been met with cynicism in Ukraine, given Russia's previous actions in the region, including attacks on Ukrainian grain ports and storage infrastructure. Ukraine has sought alternative export routes for its grain, even as Russia threatens to treat ships calling at Ukrainian ports as potential military targets.

The European Union has condemned Russia's recent attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure used for grain exports, asserting that such actions are contributing to global food price increases and endangering vulnerable populations worldwide. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock criticized Putin for blocking the Black Sea grain deal, accusing him of playing cynical games and exacerbating global hunger.