Putin Confirms Russia’s Readiness to Return to Grain Deal

Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed during a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan today, Wednesday, that Russia is ready to return to the grain deal if the West fulfills its obligations.

The Kremlin statement said Putin reaffirmed during the conversation Russia’s desire to work with Turkey and other interested countries to develop options for delivering its grain to countries in need.

The statement added: “It is emphasized that, taking into account the needs of countries most in need of food, work is underway to develop reliable options for the supply of Russian grain, including on a gratuitous basis”, noting that this issue is “seriously considered” were discussed at the second Russian-African summit held recently in St. Petersburg.

The statement said that the Russian side also confirmed Moscow’s readiness to return to the Istanbul agreements on grain exports, “after the West actually fulfills all the obligations contained therein towards Russia.”

According to the Kremlin, Putin explained to Erdogan the reasons for Russia’s withdrawal from the grain deal and Russia’s principled position regarding the termination of work on the grain deal, since it makes no sense to renew it in the absence of progress in implementation. its Russian part.

The Kremlin indicated that an agreement had been reached to continue contacts between the two countries at various levels, “including in the context of preparations for a possible meeting of the two leaders.”

It is noteworthy that in a statement about the contact between Putin and Erdogan, the Turkish leadership stated that they had agreed on the visit of the Russian president to Turkey.

The Turkish statement also indicated that Erdogan during the conversation stressed the importance of the “grain deal” and stressed that Turkey will continue to make intensive efforts to continue it.

Source: Kremlin website.