Turkish President Erdogan stated that he trusts Russia as much as he trusts the West, highlighting his recent meeting with Russian President Putin. While Erdogan failed to convince Putin to resume the Black Sea grain deal, he secured a pledge for Russia to supply 1 million tons of grain to Africa. Erdogan emphasized that he has no reason not to trust Russia, stating that for the last 50 years, Turkey has been waiting at the doorstep of the EU and he now trusts Russia just as much as the West. Erdogan also expressed optimism about improving relations with the West, including the EU and the US.
Turkish President Erdogan stated that he trusts Russia as much as he trusts the West, highlighting his recent meeting with Russian President Putin. While Erdogan failed to convince Russia to resume the Black Sea grain deal, he secured a pledge for Russia to supply 1 million tons of grain to Africa. Erdogan emphasized that he has no reason not to trust Russia, stating that they are equally reliable as the West. He also expressed hopes for revitalizing Turkey's EU accession process and improving ties with the US. Erdogan believes that Putin is on the side of ending the war in Ukraine as soon as possible.
Russia has reiterated that it will not rejoin the Black Sea grain deal unless its demands are met, including the lifting of sanctions and dropping restrictions on Russian agricultural exports. The UN had proposed giving a subsidiary of the Russian Agricultural Bank access to the SWIFT international payments system, but Russia insists that the bank itself should have access. The EU has criticized Russia for leaving the deal and accused them of attacking port infrastructures.
Russia has reiterated its demands for a return to the Black Sea grain deal, which it quit in July. The Kremlin insists that its state agricultural bank, Rosselkhozbank, and not its subsidiary, should be reconnected to the international SWIFT bank payments system. Russia claims that the deal has not been fulfilled and has been bombing Ukrainian ports and grain stores since quitting the agreement. The United Nations has proposed that a subsidiary of Rosselkhozbank could apply to SWIFT to enable access for the bank within 30 days, but Russia insists on the original agreement being fulfilled.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi to discuss the reestablishment of the Black Sea grain deal, which Russia broke off in July. The deal allowed for the safe transportation of millions of metric tons of grain and other commodities from Ukraine. Turkey, a major broker in the deal, aims to renew the agreement to prevent a food crisis in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The talks come amid tensions between Russia and the West, with Russia demanding certain actions from Western countries for the deal to resume.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has informed Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan that Russia is willing to rejoin the Black Sea grain deal once the West fulfills its obligations regarding Russia's own grain exports. The deal, brokered by Turkey and the United Nations, allowed for the safe export of grain from Ukraine's Black Sea ports. Moscow exited the deal last month, accusing the West of hindering its grain and fertilizer exports. Both leaders emphasized the importance of avoiding actions that could jeopardize the resumption of the deal, with Putin agreeing to visit Turkey in the future.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has informed Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan that Russia is willing to rejoin the Black Sea grain deal once the West fulfills its obligations regarding Russia's own grain exports. The deal, brokered by Turkey and the United Nations, allowed for the safe export of grain from Ukraine's Black Sea ports. Russia exited the deal last month, accusing the West of hindering its grain and fertilizer exports. Both leaders emphasized the importance of avoiding actions that could jeopardize the resumption of the deal, with Putin agreeing to visit Turkey in the near future.
Pope Francis has called on Russia to reverse its decision to abandon the Black Sea grain deal, which allowed Ukraine to export grain from its seaports despite the ongoing war. The pope urged Russian authorities to resume the initiative and ensure the safe transportation of grain. Russia withdrew from the pact on July 17, leading to a spike in global wheat prices. The pope condemned the war in Ukraine and the destruction of grain, calling it a grave insult to God. He also highlighted the hunger crisis faced by millions of people and urged prayers for Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will convene a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council to discuss the Black Sea Grain Deal, which Russia recently pulled out of, leading to missile attacks on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa. The meeting aims to address the crisis situation in the Black Sea and ensure the sustainable operation of the grain corridor. Ukraine has called on the UN and neighboring countries to secure safe passage for grain exports through joint patrols. The scuppering of the deal by Russia has pushed up global grain prices and deprived millions of people of much-needed grain.
The United Nations warns that the spike in grain prices following Russia's withdrawal from a Black Sea grain deal could potentially lead to hunger and death for millions of people. The UN's aid chief states that 362 million people in 69 countries are in need of humanitarian assistance. Russia left the deal due to unmet demands and insufficient Ukrainian grain reaching the poorest countries. US wheat futures rose over 6% this week, but there are hopes that Russia may resume talks on the deal. The UN argues that the Black Sea deal has helped lower food prices globally, but Russia claims that the impact of the deal is not significant. Russia is currently negotiating food exports to countries in need but has not signed any contracts yet. The UN expresses concern over the attacks on Ukrainian food export facilities and warns of potential impacts on global food security. Turkey's President hopes to restore the Black Sea grain deal through talks with Russia, while the US Ambassador to the UN accuses Russia of using the Black Sea as blackmail. Russia states that it is open to returning to the deal if its demands are met, including the reconnection of its Agricultural Bank to the SWIFT international payments system. The EU remains open to exploring solutions to resume the grain deal.
The U.S. is relying on Turkey to persuade Russia to rejoin the Black Sea grain deal that Moscow recently abandoned, causing disruptions in global wheat markets and escalating tensions in the region. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized Turkey's leadership role in salvaging the agreement and ensuring food security. Russia's withdrawal from the deal, coupled with its airstrikes on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, has damaged grain silos and port infrastructure, hindering commercial shipping. The U.S. is exploring alternative export routes and evaluating options to support Ukraine's agricultural economy, but doubts its ability to compensate for the lost volume.
Turkish President Erdogan expressed hope that his upcoming talks with Russian President Putin could lead to the restoration of the Black Sea grain initiative, which was recently terminated by Russia. Erdogan called on Western countries to consider Russia's demands, stating that the termination of the deal could have consequences such as increased global food prices and potential waves of migration. Russia has quit the deal and revoked guarantees of safe navigation, demanding easier access for its own food and fertilizer exports to world markets. Western countries argue that Russia has no trouble selling food and is exempt from financial sanctions.
Several G20 members have condemned Russia's decision to quit the Black Sea grain deal, which allowed for the safe export of grain from Ukraine. Concerns are rising over a potential increase in food prices in poorer countries following Moscow's move. Russia suspended its participation in the agreement after a blast damaged its bridge to Crimea, but the Kremlin denies any link between the attack and the decision. G20 financial leaders failed to reach a consensus on the war in Ukraine, resulting in India issuing a chair summary instead of a joint statement. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has overshadowed global diplomacy and hindered India's efforts to secure consensus on various reforms during its G20 presidency.
The US will send cluster munitions to Ukraine for the first time as part of a new military aid package, acknowledging the risk to civilians but emphasizing the greater threat if Kyiv doesn't have sufficient ammunition against Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the plight of prisoners of war with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who vowed to raise the issue with Russia's President Vladimir Putin. Zelensky also expressed gratitude for Turkey's support of Ukraine's bid to join NATO and discussed extending the Black Sea grain deal. He believes Ukraine will regain control over Crimea and thanked Turkey for supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The upcoming NATO summit will address key issues facing Ukraine, including Sweden's stalled accession to the alliance.
The EU is seeking to reconnect a sanctioned Russian bank to the global financial system in order to address the worsening global food crisis. The move is aimed at securing Russian President Vladimir Putin's support to extend the Black Sea grain deal, which expires soon. The deal allowed Ukraine to export its food products from its ports during a blockade by Russia. The proposal would allow the state-owned Russian Agricultural Bank to handle payments related to grain exports and use the SWIFT messaging system. This concession is seen as the "least worst option" to secure Putin's support for the extension of the grain deal. The international community faces challenges in dealing with the sanctions imposed on Russia, and the potential reconnection of the Russian bank to SWIFT highlights these difficulties.
