Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi on Monday, the 4th of September, during which he informed Erdogan that Russia is ready to engage in talks about the Black Sea “grain deal”, reports Reuters.
Putin, opening the meeting, told Erdogan that he hoped they would finalise talks on the natural gas hub in Turkey and said they would also discuss the “grain deal”.
“I know you’re planning to raise the issue of the “grain deal”,” Putin told Erdogan,
“We are open to talk on this issue.”
Erdogan has so far played an important role in talks with Putin on convincing and returning Russia to the deal.
Before his talks with Erdogan, Ukrainian officials reported a Russian air strike on one of Ukraine’s main grain exporting ports.
However, Romania denied Ukraine’s claim that Russian drones had exploded on its territory, which is a NATO member.
BNN previously reported that Russia withdrew in July from the deal reached a year ago by the UN and Turkey to ease the global food crisis by facilitating Ukrainian grain exports over the Black Sea.
Putin has indicated that Russia could consider rejoining the “grain deal” if the West complies with the agreement to facilitate Russian food and fertiliser exports. Although these exports are not directly subject to sanctions, Moscow points to problems related to payments, logistics and insurance.
Read also: Russia announces decision to quit “grain deal”