The president of the aggressor country Vladimir Putin spoke with the Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan is almost the only world leader who, after Russia’s massive invasion of Ukraine, continues to talk to and see Vladimir Putin. Turkey did not join the sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Erdogan has repeatedly offered his mediation efforts. Ankara simultaneously sells arms to Ukraine, declares support for its territorial integrity, and hosts Russian oligarchs fleeing Western sanctions.
Closed negotiations
Erdogan flew to Sochi for talks with Putin on Friday afternoon. He was accompanied by the ministers of foreign affairs and defense, as well as the head of Turkish national intelligence. Negotiations were held behind closed doors at the Rus sanatorium. The first stage is one-on-one negotiations, then with delegations.
The negotiation lasted more than four hours. At seven o’clock in the evening the motorcade of the President of Turkey left. A press conference between Putin and Erdogan after the summit was not scheduled.
corn
Erdogan initiated negotiations to unblock Ukrainian grain exports, which Russia has disrupted with its attack. Moscow and Kyiv agreed to talks in Istanbul, which resulted in the signing of agreements on the creation of a corridor from Ukrainian ports across the Black Sea to Turkey and beyond the ports of destination .
On Friday, bulk carriers Navistar, Rojen and Polarnet headed from Odessa to Turkey, Great Britain and Ireland. They will be inspected by a joint inspection team at the coordination center at the port of Istanbul. The first Razoni ship with 26,000 tons of Ukrainian corn arrived in the port of Istanbul on Wednesday, was checked by inspectors and headed to the port of Tripoli in Lebanon.
In a joint statement by Putin and Erdogan following the Sochi talks, it was said that the agreements in Istanbul should be fully implemented, “including the unhindered export of Russian grain, fertilizers and raw materials for their production.”
Under the terms of the agreement, signed July 22 in Istanbul, Russia does not attack ports while shipping is underway, and Ukraine guides ships through mined waters with the help of warships. It is expected that Ukraine will export 20 million tons of grain, which will prevent world hunger and increase grain prices.
Gas
After the talks, the Russian side said: “The presidents agreed that we will start partial gas supplies and pay for them in rubles” (he did not specify what “partial” means “).
Erdogan also invited Putin to discuss issues related to the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant. Putin and Erdogan did not discuss the possible production in Russia or the purchase from Turkey of Bayraktar drones, which are in service in Ukraine, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Penalties
Russian authorities have turned to Turkey for help in avoiding sanctions imposed by Western countries in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, writes The Washington Post.
The article states that on the eve of the talks between the presidents of Russia and Turkey, the Ukrainian intelligence intercepted the relevant proposal of the Russian authorities.
According to the intercept, the Russian Federation is urging Turkey to allow it to buy stakes in Turkish refineries, oil terminals and reservoirs. This decision, says The Washington Post, could help hide the origin of the oil and avoid sanctions, including the EU oil embargo.
Russia is also demanding to open accounts in Turkish state banks for the largest financial institution of the Russian Federation, as well as to allow Russian industrial producers to work within Turkey’s free economic zones.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.