The two met in Sochi, Russia.
(Photo: via REUTERS)
Sochi Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for mediating the conclusion of the grain deal. Erdogan not only promoted the resumption of Ukrainian grain deliveries from the Black Sea ports, Putin said in a statement with Erdogan in Sochi before joint talks on Friday. “But at the same time, a package solution was adopted for the trouble-free delivery of Russian food and fertilizers to world markets.”
Agricultural exports via the Ukrainian Black Sea ports had recently been blocked for months because of the Russian war of aggression. War opponents Ukraine and Russia signed an agreement separately with Turkey on July 22, through UN mediation, to allow grain exports from Ukraine from three ports.
As part of the agreement, the UN and Russia also signed a separate memorandum of understanding. According to UN information, this provides for the promotion of the export of Russian food and fertilizers.
Putin also praised the Turkstream pipeline from Russia and Turkey. It is not only one of the most important supply veins in Europe, but also works “unlike other directions of our carbon supplies without any disruptions, dynamically and without failures,” said the Kremlin chief, referring to the gas supply volumes for the Nord Stream 1 pipeline that have been reduced since June.
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Erdogan said the situation in Syria would also be discussed. Turkey has been announcing a new offensive in the north of the country for weeks. Russia as well as Iran – both actors in the Syrian civil war – had previously advised Turkey not to take such a step.
>> Read here: Putin creates his own world order – and the West looks on helplessly
Turkey already occupies areas in northern Syria and justifies a renewed offensive with a “terrorist threat” on the part of the Syrian Kurdish militia YPG, which Ankara regards as a terrorist organization.
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