Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that he will host Russian President Vladimir Putin in August. They will discuss extending a Black Sea grain deal, which facilitates the safe export of grain from Ukraine.
The deal was brokered by Turkey and the United Nations in late 2022. It has been credited with alleviating a global food crisis exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Under the agreement, Russia allows safe passage for Ukrainian grain ships through the Black Sea, and Turkey inspects the ships to address Russian concerns about weapons smuggling.
The current deal is set to expire on July 17. However, Erdogan expressed his hope to extend it for at least three months, and possibly for two years. He plans to discuss this matter with Putin during their meeting in Turkey in August.
Erdogan’s announcement coincides with the United Nations’ efforts to secure a longer-term agreement for the safe export of Ukrainian grain. Due to the ongoing war, around 25 million tons of grain are currently stuck in Ukrainian ports.
It remains uncertain whether Putin will agree to extend the grain deal. Russia has previously accused Ukraine of insufficiently clearing mines from its ports and demanded the lifting of Western sanctions.
Nevertheless, Erdogan is confident that he can convince Putin to extend the deal. He emphasizes Turkey’s “special relationship” with both Russia and Ukraine, and believes he can act as a mediator between the two nations.
The meeting between Erdogan and Putin will be their first since the start of the war in Ukraine. The international community will closely observe this meeting as a test of whether the two countries can cooperate on issues of mutual interest, such as the safe export of grain.
