Türkiye and NATO discuss ways to 'revive' grain deal; Ukraine does not support 'appeasement' to Russia

On September 5, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had a phone call and discussed with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg the steps Ankara has taken to resume the grain deal.

Châu Âu được mùa lúa nhưng giá gạo vẫn cao. (Nguồn: Reuters)

Türkiye, NATO discuss steps to resume Black Sea grain deal. (Source: Reuters)

"During the phone call, the two sides discussed the latest developments in Ukraine, steps taken to 'revive' the grain corridor, as well as Sweden's NATO membership," the ministry said in a statement.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Sochi, Russia, on September 4 to discuss the situation surrounding the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which expired in July, as well as a number of other issues. The meeting did not produce any joint documents.

* Also this week, Ukrainian Presidential Adviser Kykhailo Podolyak rejected Türkiye's suggestion that Kiev should take a softer stance to restore the grain deal.

According to Mr. Podolyak, Ukraine will not support the lifting of sanctions or a policy of "appeasement" towards Russia.

On July 18, the Türkiye-United Nations-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative — which provided a humanitarian corridor allowing Ukraine’s grain exports over the past year — expired.

Moscow has pulled out of the deal, saying the part of the deal that would allow Russia to export grain and fertilizer has not been implemented.

* Russia has consolidated its position as the world's top grain exporter as it enjoys large output and falling prices.

Mr. David Laborde, Director of Agricultural Economics of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, said that the world hopes that 45 million tons of Moscow wheat will be brought to market.

Russia, which imported more wheat than it exported 25 years ago, became the top exporter in 2016.

Egypt and Türkiye are the country's biggest wheat importers. The North African country imports 80 percent of its grain needs from Russia and Ukraine, while Türkiye processes Moscow's wheat into flour for export to the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

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