Turkey continues to try as a mediator in the Ukraine war. In a conversation, Kremlin chief Putin and Turkish President Erdoğan are said to have discussed how relations between the two countries can be improved.
Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke on the phone – among other things, about the grain agreement with Ukraine. According to the Reuters news agency, the Turkish presidency announced that Erdoğan thanked Putin for his “positive attitude” in the extension of the agreement. Both also discussed steps to improve relations between their two countries.
According to information from Ankara, the developments of the war were also an issue. Erdoğan underlined the importance of ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine through negotiations as soon as possible. The Russian news agency Ria Novosti also reported on the phone call, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Last week Moscow and Kiev agreed to extend the grain agreement. Without an agreement, the agreement would have expired on March 19. The agreement on the Black Sea Grains Initiative came about in July 2022, mediated by the United Nations and Turkey
Among other things, the agreement provides for the release of Ukrainian ports and a corridor in the Black Sea for grain exports. Russia had blocked Ukrainian grain exports for months after the war began. The agreement helped stabilize markets and lower food prices.
Source: Spiegel