Putin Says He’s Ready To Restore Grain Deal, But Sets Conditions

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with his Russian counterpart in Sochi on Monday. It was his first meeting since 2022. Even before the start of the visit, he said that the main purpose of the visit to Russia is to convince Vladimir Putin to extend the grain agreement, which Russia broke in July this year. Its implementation made it possible to safely export Ukrainian grain through the ports of the Black Sea. The agreement was discussed in the summer of 2022 and extended several times - this time Russia refused to renew it, arguing that the conditions set by it were not met.

grain deal. Russia sets conditions

She said that when the restrictions hindering the export of Russian food and fertilizers are lifted, she will return to the implementation of the grain agreement.

“As Turkey, we believe that we can find a solution that will meet expectations in the short term,” Erdogan said today. He added that Ukraine should also make some concessions, namely “to soften the approach so that joint steps can be taken with Russia.”

- We will be ready to consider the possibility of resuming the grain deal, and today I once again told the president about this. We will do this as soon as all agreements on lifting restrictions on the export of Russian agricultural products are fully implemented.Putin announced.

Limiting grain supplies from Ukraine could mean starvation in some African countries that have so far bought grain from Ukrainian suppliers. They can’t afford to pay more for grain, so less will go there, and customers will still pay more. This is a huge danger that has already raised alarms in the spring of 2022, when Russia prevented the safe transportation of grain. The one-year grain agreement has revived concerns about global food security. Realizing the accusations addressed to him, Vladimir Putin said that he intended to sign agreements with six African countries in the near future, which would receive “free grain” from Russia.

Romania is preparing its ports to receive grain cargo

Europe is not waiting for negotiations on grain supplies with Vladimir Putin. After the termination of the agreement, alternative methods of delivery were discussed, primarily through the ports of the Danube. Romania is intensively preparing to receive part of the cargo: Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said that in order to facilitate transit, transshipment capacities have been increased in the port of Constanta and on the routes leading to it. This could double exports to 4 million tons per month.

The most important thing is to “optimize the capacity”, as the Minister of Transport of Romania put it, the Sulina Canal. Sulina is one of the mouths of the Danube.

The politician said that within two months his country will double the transit of Ukrainian grain through the country, according to the Financial Times.

Changes that the Bucharest authorities will make in a few weeks include allowing ships to sail at night and increasing freight traffic to at least 14 grain carriers a day. The number of automobile border crossing points will also be increased, as well as the improvement of the railway infrastructure at stations bordering Ukraine, which should speed up the transshipment of goods.

Americans see an opportunity to increase grain exports from Ukraine

According to the International Monetary Fund, Russia’s withdrawal from the grain initiative will lead to an increase in world grain prices by 10-15 percent. Growth will be less if alternative, efficient modes of transport can be quickly developed. Reuters reports, citing a US official, that the United States does not rule out the possibility that exports could return to pre-war levels in the coming months.