Putin Says Russia To Deliver Free Grain To Africa Soon, Türkiye Against 'Alternative Proposals' To Ukraine Grain Deal

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Moscow will soon start supplying free grain to six African countries.

New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Moscow will soon start supplying free grain to six African countries after scrapping a deal allowing Ukrainian food exports through the Black Sea.

His comments came during a press conference with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi.

Erdogan told Putin that Türkiye and the United Nations had prepared new proposals aimed at addressing Russia's problems with the deal, adding that he hoped to reach a workable solution "soon". "The alternative proposals brought to the agenda could not offer a sustainable, secure and permanent model based on cooperation between the parties like the Black Sea Initiative," Erdogan said at the joint media appearance with Putin.

But Putin reiterated that Russia would only return to the landmark accord when its demands were met and instead gave details of the plan for shipments to Africa.

"We are close to completing agreements with six African states, where we intend to supply foodstuffs for free and even carry out delivery and logistics for free," Putin said. "Deliveries will begin in the next couple of weeks."

At the press conference, Erdogan, however, hoped that a solution that would meet Türkiye's expectations would be reached soon. "We have prepared a new proposal package in consultation with the UN. I believe that it is possible to get results. I believe that a solution that will meet Türkiye's expectations will be reached soon."

Ukraine has sent four ships along a new sea route, while Russia is preparing a plan to send foodstuffs for free to some African countries, and to send discounted grain for processing in Türkiye under a deal also including Qatar.

Earlier in July, Putin had refused to extend the agreement, which was brokered by Türkiye and the United Nations a year earlier and was seen as vital for global food supplies, especially in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Ukraine and Russia are major suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil, and other goods that developing nations rely on.