Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan are scheduled to convene for discussions in Sochi, Russia, next week.

This meeting comes as part of ongoing efforts to reestablish an agreement that permits the continued export of Ukrainian goods, despite the ongoing conflict.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin and Erdoğan will meet in the Black Sea resort town on Monday, The Hill reported.

It’s worth noting that Ankara played a role in brokering the initial grain deal, which facilitated the safe transit of ships carrying Ukrainian goods through the Black Sea, in collaboration with the United Nations, back in July.

This agreement was pivotal in mitigating rising food costs during the conflict, given that both Ukraine and Russia are major global suppliers of essential food products like wheat, barley, and sunflower oil.

However, Moscow chose not to renew the agreement this summer, citing concerns that it disproportionately favored Ukraine and did not adequately address the export needs of Russian food and fertilizer products to global markets.

Written by staff