Erdogan meets with Putin to discuss grain deal in Russia’s Sochi
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia was ready to return to the grain agreement, but demanded the fulfillment of its priorities. With this, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reminded that Türkiye had taken Russia's demands into account and was preparing a package of proposals for the United Nations.
Russia is ready to return to the grain deal, but it is important to fulfill its priorities, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a press conference after talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi.
'SANCTIONS MUST BE LIFTED FOR GRAIN DEAL'
"We are ready to back the grain agreement. For a new deal, sanctions against Russia must be lifted. I have made this clear to President Erdogan," Putin said.
"We had to leave the grain agreement because the Western countries did not do what was necessary. The West prevented us from exporting our agricultural products. More than 70 percent of the grain went to rich countries, especially the European Union. Countries in need received much less. The termination of the agreement did not affect the global market too much," the Russian President added.
President Erdogan stated that Türkiye would continue negotiations for the reinstatement of the Black Sea initiative and the grain deal.
"Russia's expectations are known to all parties. We have expressed the issues raised by our Russian friends in different words. In this context, we have prepared a package of new proposals for the United Nations. I hope that the new work of the United Nations will yield results. We are ready to do our part in this regard again. We discussed regional and global issues with Putin. We evaluated the issues related to Syria, Caucasus, Libya, and Africa,” Erdogan highlighted.
NATURAL GAS CENTER IN TURKIYE
In addition, the opening of a natural gas center in Türkiye was also on the agenda of the two leaders. Putin stated that relations between Türkiye and Russia have improved and trade volume has increased under Erdoğan's leadership.
"We are meeting face to face for the first time after the general elections in Türkiye. Russia-Türkiye relations continue to develop under your leadership. Our trade volume of 62 billion dollars is developing positively. We have made significant progress," Putin said.
"We will qualify our negotiations on the establishment of a natural gas distribution center in Türkiye. We will take important steps with Türkiye in the near future, both in gas and in other areas," he emphasized.
Erdogan, on the other hand, touched upon the nuclear power plant initiatives in Türkiye and made statements on the trade volume of the two countries.
"The fact that you have made this invitation has made you and my delegation happy. Developments at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant continue. The message on the grain corridor will be important. Currently, our foreign trade volume between Türkiye and Russia is 62 billion dollars. The fact that we are walking towards the 100 billion target makes us very happy," the Turkish president said.
Source: Ihlas News Agency
