Abroad Yesterday, 18:572 Erdogan and Putin met in Sochi; New proposals for Turkey in the grain deal

“We have prepared a new package of proposals in consultation with the UN. I believe that it is possible to achieve results. I believe that a solution that meets Turkey’s expectations can be reached soon,” the Turkish president said at the joint press conference with Putin.

He also stated his opposition to proposals put forward as alternatives to last year’s Ukraine grain deal.

Ukraine and Russia have announced their competing plans to transport grain in the Black Sea.

“Alternative proposals submitted to the agenda cannot offer a sustainable, safe and permanent model based on cooperation between the parties, as was the case in the Black Sea Initiative,” the president said.

Ukraine has sent four ships along a new sea route, but Russia is preparing to implement a plan to send food to several African countries for free, as well as to supply grain to Turkey for processing at a discount. This agreement also foresees the involvement of Qatar.

The Russian dictator reiterated on Monday that he is ready to restore the UN-backed deal once all of Moscow’s demands are met.

The export of Russian grain, fertilizer and agricultural technology is hindered due to Western sanctions, Putin said.

Once these restrictions on the export of Russian agricultural products are lifted, Russia would be ready to resume the operation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the Kremlin host said.

Since Moscow pulled out of a UN-backed grain deal in July, Russia has carried out several strikes on Ukraine’s port infrastructure and threatened to treat all ships in the Black Sea as military targets.

Erdogan is trying to revive the grain deal, hoping to use it as a basis for broader peace talks.