Kremlin: Türkiye Willing to Support Reinstatement of Black Sea Grain Initiative
The US and Russia have pledged to work towards reviving the currently inactive Black Sea Grain Initiative as a means to address the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Türkiye has expressed its readiness to assist in revitalizing the initiative, according...
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The US and Russia have pledged to work towards reviving the currently inactive Black Sea Grain Initiative as a means to address the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
Türkiye has expressed its readiness to assist in revitalizing the initiative, according to a statement from the Kremlin following a phone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The agreement, initially brokered by the UN and Türkiye in July 2022, aimed to ensure the secure passage of Ukrainian agricultural exports to global markets, contingent upon the West easing restrictions on Russian grain and fertilizer trade. However, Moscow withdrew from the agreement in 2023, citing a lack of fulfilment of obligations by the West.
The Kremlin noted that Erdogan “voiced support for Russian-American dialogue and reaffirmed Ankara’s willingness to help facilitate progress on the Black Sea agreement.”
On Monday, officials from the US and Russia reached an agreement to reinstate the initiative after extensive discussions lasting 12 hours in Saudi Arabia. Russia has called for the reconnection of its agricultural bank, Rosselkhozbank, along with other entities involved in food and fertilizer transactions, to the SWIFT international payments system, which was part of the original Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Moscow has pointed to the West's lack of commitment to the agreement and allegations that Ukraine misused the arrangement for military purposes as reasons for its decision not to renew the annual agreement in 2023.
US President Donald Trump confirmed on Tuesday that his administration is considering the possibility of lifting certain sanctions on Russia.
The Kremlin conveyed that discussions between Moscow and Washington also covered measures to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea, emphasizing commitments to avoid the use of force and to prevent commercial vessels from being utilized for military actions. Proposed strategies include vessel inspections.
In an interview with Channel 1 on Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow would require solid guarantees from the US to consider renewing the deal. Lavrov remarked, "Our position now is simple: We cannot take anyone’s word at face value."
Max Fischer for TROIB News
Türkiye has expressed its readiness to assist in revitalizing the initiative, according to a statement from the Kremlin following a phone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The agreement, initially brokered by the UN and Türkiye in July 2022, aimed to ensure the secure passage of Ukrainian agricultural exports to global markets, contingent upon the West easing restrictions on Russian grain and fertilizer trade. However, Moscow withdrew from the agreement in 2023, citing a lack of fulfilment of obligations by the West.
The Kremlin noted that Erdogan “voiced support for Russian-American dialogue and reaffirmed Ankara’s willingness to help facilitate progress on the Black Sea agreement.”
On Monday, officials from the US and Russia reached an agreement to reinstate the initiative after extensive discussions lasting 12 hours in Saudi Arabia. Russia has called for the reconnection of its agricultural bank, Rosselkhozbank, along with other entities involved in food and fertilizer transactions, to the SWIFT international payments system, which was part of the original Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Moscow has pointed to the West's lack of commitment to the agreement and allegations that Ukraine misused the arrangement for military purposes as reasons for its decision not to renew the annual agreement in 2023.
US President Donald Trump confirmed on Tuesday that his administration is considering the possibility of lifting certain sanctions on Russia.
The Kremlin conveyed that discussions between Moscow and Washington also covered measures to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea, emphasizing commitments to avoid the use of force and to prevent commercial vessels from being utilized for military actions. Proposed strategies include vessel inspections.
In an interview with Channel 1 on Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow would require solid guarantees from the US to consider renewing the deal. Lavrov remarked, "Our position now is simple: We cannot take anyone’s word at face value."
Max Fischer for TROIB News
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