“Putin Insists on Demands from the West”

Russian President Putin and his Turkish counterpart Erdogan negotiated the revival of the grain agreement during a meeting in Sochi. However, Putin remained firm on his demands, while Erdogan expressed optimism.

During a press conference in Sochi on the Black Sea, Putin stated that the grain agreement would only be reinstated once all Russian demands were met. The restrictions on the export of Russian agricultural products needed to be lifted first, according to Putin. He once again lamented that Western sanctions hindered the export of Russian grain, fertilizer, and agricultural technology. Simultaneously, the Russian President announced free grain shipments to six African countries.

After the meeting, Erdogan stated, “We believe that the initiative should be continued by addressing the shortcomings.” He mentioned that Turkey and the United Nations were working on new proposals for the grain agreement and expressed his belief in finding a solution that meets expectations “in a short time.”

This was Erdogan’s first visit to Russia in almost a year, and the grain agreement was one of the main topics in Sochi. The Turkish President expressed optimism at the start of the meeting, stating that the message they would convey to the world after their meeting would be a significant step, particularly for less developed African countries. Putin had previously stated his openness to negotiations.

Shortly before the meeting, Ukraine reported further Russian attacks on its infrastructure, including the port of Izmail, one of the country’s major grain export hubs.

The EU condemned these attacks, with a spokesman for EU Foreign Affairs Representative Josep Borrell stating that the fact that facilities for exporting Ukrainian grain were being targeted once again highlighted how Russia’s actions were exacerbating global food prices and endangering millions of vulnerable people worldwide. The spokesman called the actions appalling.

Security expert Claudia Major had already expressed doubts about the chances of renewing the grain agreement before the meeting, considering the attacks. She stated on a German morning news show that they indicated a lack of willingness on Russia’s part, emphasizing that Moscow appeared to have “very little interest” and was still “playing for victory.”

Stefan Meister, an Eastern Europe expert from the German Society for Foreign Policy, expressed similar skepticism in an interview with tagesschau24. He believed that Putin wanted to push Ukraine out of the market with Russian grain and systematically destroy Ukrainian infrastructure and grain.

At the same time, Putin made demands, such as joining the SWIFT agreement or accessing the fertilizer market, which would not be agreed upon, according to the expert. He stated, “My impression is that he is setting the bar very high, perhaps because he doesn’t even want an agreement.”

The grain agreement was negotiated between Ukraine and Russia by Turkey and the United Nations in the summer of 2022. It allowed Ukraine to export agricultural goods via the Black Sea. However, it expired in mid-July, with Russia opposing its extension.