Putin-Erdogan meeting on Ukrainian grain next week

The Kremlin announced today that the president Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan will discuss the implementation of the agreement on Ukrainian grain exportswhich both have criticized, when they meet in Uzbekistan next week.

Putin said on Wednesday that Russia and the developing world had been “deceived” and that he would seek changes to the terms of the deal, which expires in November, before it is extended.

“A conversation between Putin and Erdogan is possible and necessary. We expect it to take place in Samarkand,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, referring to next week’s Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting in Uzbekistan.

The July agreement to resume Ukrainian grain exports from Black Sea ports was brokered by Turkey and the United Nations. It remains the only major diplomatic success in the six months of conflict.

THE Peskov repeated Putin’s claims today that the grain deal is unfair to poorer countries because most cargoes are sent to Europe and other rich countries.

“The agreements are being implemented, but the way they are being implemented does not provide much benefit to poor countries,” Peskov said.

A spokesman for the United Nations Black Sea Grain Initiative said on Wednesday that 30 percent of grain and other products transported from Ukraine went to low- and low- to middle-income countries. But the United Nations has also said the export deal is a market-driven — not humanitarian — enterprise.

Peskov also said further steps needed to be taken to help Russia export its own agricultural products.

“This issue has not been resolved. It will be the topic for specific discussion,” said Peskov.

RES-EMP

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