The Black Sea grain deal will be the focus of discussions between Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting on Monday, according to Erdogan’s chief foreign policy advisor.
In an interview with A Haber television channel, Akif Cagatay Kilic stated, “We play a leading role here. We see strong support from all around the world for the realization of the grain corridor.”
Kilic also mentioned that the current status of the grain deal will be discussed at the summit and expressed cautious optimism for success, highlighting the global significance of the situation.
Officials from Ukraine reported that Russian drones attacked critical port infrastructure on the Danube River, resulting in injuries and impacting Ukraine’s grain exports.
Since July, the Danube has served as Ukraine’s primary route for exporting grain after Russia withdrew from a U.N. and Turkey-brokered deal that facilitated the safe passage of Kyiv’s agricultural exports via the Black Sea.
Kilic acknowledged the technical complexities related to the agreement, particularly regarding Russian grain and payment mechanisms. He also emphasized the involvement of international payment systems such as SWIFT, adding to the multifaceted challenge.
According to Kilic, the decision of the Russian leader is crucial in resolving the issue, and he believes that the bilateral meeting between President Erdogan and President Putin will play a pivotal role.
Reporting by Ece Toksabay, editing by David Evans
Credit: The Star : News Feed
