Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for the continued implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a proposal to export Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, Turanews.kz reports.
Erdogan made the call at a press conference following talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Sochi. He said that the alternative proposals to the grain agreement did not provide a “sustainable, safe and permanent model based on cooperation between the parties”.
Erdogan also stressed that Türkiye is determined to continue efforts to establish lasting peace, stability and prosperity in the region. He assured that Türkiye is ready, as before, to contribute to the organization of direct peace talks between the Russian Federation and Ukraine.
The Turkish leader said that Ankara, together with the UN, has prepared a new package of proposals for a grain agreement. He expressed confidence that “within this new process, the necessary results can be achieved.”
Erdogan added that in order to renew the grain agreement, “Ukraine, of course, needs to soften its approaches in terms of joint steps with Russia.”
The Turkish president also said that Russia, Türkiye and Qatar intend to take steps to support African countries by sending grain processed into flour to these states. He noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed sending 1 million tons of grain to the poorest countries. The head of state stressed that Türkiye supports this initiative and will fulfill its obligations in this direction.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative is a proposal to export Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, which is currently blocked by Russia’s naval blockade. The proposal has been met with mixed reactions, with some countries supporting it and others expressing concerns about its feasibility.
The Turkish government has been a strong supporter of the initiative, and Erdogan’s call for its continued implementation is a sign that Türkiye is committed to finding a solution to the grain crisis.
The grain crisis is a major humanitarian issue, with millions of people in Africa and the Middle East facing food shortages. The successful implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative would be a major step towards alleviating the crisis.
