The Kremlin on Friday (September 1) confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin will host Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday, as both nations seek to find common ground and potentially revive a grain agreement that ensures safe passage for vital grain shipments, news agency Agence France Presse (AFP) reported. Russia had previously withdrawn from a UN-backed grain agreement in July, a deal initially facilitated with Turkey's involvement.
According to the report, this withdrawal effectively suspended the guarantee of safe navigation for civilian ships sailing through the Black Sea.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the upcoming negotiations, stating, "Negotiations will indeed take place in Sochi on Monday," as per the report.
The latest development follows Ukraine's announcement that two additional ships are navigating a temporary corridor established by Kyiv to ensure safe passage. Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov shared the news on social media, stating, "Two vessels are sailing through a temporary corridor from Ukraine's Black Sea ports to the Bosphorus."
According to the AFP report, the establishment of this maritime corridor by Kyiv in August came in response to Moscow's warning that ships departing Ukraine's ports could potentially be treated as military targets.
During a recent visit to Moscow, Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasised the critical importance of reviving the grain agreement in order to facilitate the transportation of Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea, according to the report. Turkey sees this move as critical to ensuring regional food security and is eager to see both parties return to the original agreement, using it as a foundation for larger peace talks, it added.
Moscow claims that the previous agreement hampered its grain and fertiliser exports by restricting Russia's access to global payment systems and insurance. Russia, on the other hand, has indicated a willingness to rejoin the agreement if certain conditions and demands are met.
"Moscow says the previous agreement imposed indirect restrictions on its grain and fertiliser exports by limiting Russia's access to global payment systems and insurance," the report said.
The meeting between Putin and Erdogan on Monday is expected to serve as a springboard for further discussions aimed at resolving the complex issues surrounding the grain deal and potentially fostering broader cooperation between the two countries.