Erdoğan presses Putin to allow safe passage for Ukrainian grain shipments, agrees to in-person meeting

Türkiye will continue to make active efforts to continue the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan emphasized this in a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Turkish Presidential Administration Communications Department reports.

"President Erdoğan noted that Türkiye will continue to make intensive efforts and use diplomacy to continue the Black Sea Grain Initiative," the message reads.

During the conversation with Putin, Erdoğan noted that the long-term suspension of the Black Sea Initiative does not benefit anyone, and low-income countries that need grain will suffer the most.

"The prices of grain crops, which decreased by 23 percent during the initiative's implementation, increased by 15 percent in the last two weeks," said the Turkish leader.

He called the Black Sea Grain Initiative a "bridge of peace" and emphasized that measures should be taken to prevent the escalation of tensions.

During the conversation, Putin's visit to Türkiye was also agreed upon.

For reference:

On July 17, the Russian side sent Türkiye, Ukraine, and the UN its objections to the continuation of the Grain Agreement and de facto terminated its validity.

The UN said that due to the termination of Russia's participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the threat to shipping, food prices worldwide are increasing, exacerbating the energy and financial crises.