Erdogan announced that he intends to continue the grain deal "on an expanded scale".

Turkey wants to revive the grain deal "on an expanded scale", Erdogan said. Negotiations on the agreement are ongoing, but the outcome depends on Western countries fulfilling their promises, he said. According to him, the "principle of loyalty" has not been followed so far. Putin's visit to Turkey may take place in August, which will be his first trip to a NATO country in 3.5 years.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the country wants to restore the grain deal "on an expanded scale". His words were quoted by Bloomberg.

Erdogan called on Western countries to help turn the grain agreement into a basis for a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, Bloomberg reports. Relations on the renewal of the agreement continue, but the decision depends on the western countries "fulfilling their promises", says the Turkish president. He did not clarify what promises were not fulfilled. "Unfortunately, the principle of loyalty was not respected in the past. "Diplomatic steps have not been taken to transform the positive atmosphere created by the Black Sea Initiative into a ceasefire and then into permanent peace," Erdogan said.

Erdogan added that the phone conversation with Putin gave direct information about Russia's demands and expectations. According to him, he and Putin agreed on the "importance" of supplying African countries with grain, Bloomberg reports.

The Kremlin reported on the phone conversation with Erdogan on August 2. Erdogan expects Putin to visit Turkey in August. The Turkish Hurriyet newspaper mentioned that Putin may arrive at the end of August, without specifying the source of the information. The Russian side confirmed the intention of the visit, but did not specify the possible dates. For Putin, this may be his first visit to Turkey and, at the same time, to a NATO country since January 2020. Putin spoke with Erdogan many times in 2022 and 2023, both by phone and in person, including a meeting in Sochi in August 2022.

The grain agreement has been in effect since July 2022, allowing Ukraine to export its grain from four Black Sea ports, including Odessa. The export of grain was carried out through the Turkish Straits and under cargo control on the territory of Turkey. In July 2023, Russia informed the parties that it did not want to extend the contract, declaring that its terms were not fulfilled. The contract ended on July 18, 2023.

Putin mentioned six main conditions for Russia to return to the grain deal. Among them, for example, the removal of sanctions on the supply of Russian grain and fertilizers, the introduction of SWIFT international financial information for Russian banks and financial institutions that provide services for the supply of food and fertilizers. connection to the data exchange system and resumption of supply of spare parts for the agricultural machinery and fertilizer industry to Russia. Putin accused Western countries of not fulfilling their promises and expressed regret that the UN could not influence them.

source: kun.uz