Putin discusses “issues related to the Ukraine crisis”

High-level talks between Russian and Turkish delegations led by President Vladimir Putin and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took place on September 4 in the Russian Black Sea resort city of Sochi.

The talks, attended by the presidents, defense ministers and foreign ministers of the two countries as well as other government officials, began at 1:14 p.m. Moscow time (5:14 p.m. Hanoi time). After the talks, the two presidents will hold a press conference together.

This is the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders after the Turkish presidential election and Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal.

During the 90-minute talks, Mr. Putin and Mr. Erdogan discussed a range of issues, including the situations in Ukraine and Syria, as well as the grain deal. Mr. Erdogan sought to persuade Mr. Putin to restore an agreement allowing Ukraine to export grain and other goods from three Black Sea ports.

Ukraine and Russia are major suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other commodities.

Opening the talks, Mr Putin told Mr Erdogan he hoped the two sides would conclude talks on a gas hub in Türkiye and said Russia was also ready to discuss a grain deal.

Mr Erdogan said the grain deal was the highlight of the talks and that the world was waiting for news on the Black Sea grain corridor.

World - Mr. Putin discussed — The Belize-flagged Sormovskiy, loaded with 3,050 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat, arrives at the port of Istanbul, Türkiye, as part of the Black Sea Grains Initiative, August 2022. Photo: TRT World

“Everyone is looking at the grain corridor issue,” Erdogan said at the start of the talks. In response, Putin said “issues related to the Ukraine crisis” would be discussed.

“I know that you intend to raise questions about the grain deal. We are ready for negotiations on that topic,” the Russian president told his Turkish counterpart, echoing the Kremlin’s official position when it comes to “reviving” the deal.

Since Mr Putin pulled Russia out of the grain initiative, Mr Erdogan has repeatedly pledged to revive the deal, which has helped avoid food crises in parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Turkish President Erdogan has maintained close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the more than 18-month-old war in Ukraine. Ankara has not joined Western sanctions against Russia, but has emerged as a key trading partner and logistics hub for Moscow’s overseas business.

However, as a member of the NATO military alliance, Turkey also supports Kiev, supplying weapons to Ukraine, meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and supporting the Eastern European country's bid to join NATO.

Ankara angered Moscow in July when it handed over five Azov battalion commanders to Ukraine. Under a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine brokered by Turkey in September last year, they were supposed to stay in Turkey until the end of the fighting .

Minh Duc (According to AP, TASS)

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