Erdogan ‘could meet Putin’ to renegotiate Black Sea grain deal

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has indicated that he could meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin next month to discuss a deal allowing Ukraine to export grain via the Black Sea, which Russia pulled out of in July.

"In September, there is the G-20 meeting in India and the UN General Assembly in the US. If we find the opportunity in this busy environment, we will meet and talk with Putin face to face," Erdogan told reporters on Sunday while returning from a trip to Hungary, according to the Turkish state news agency Anadolu.

On his visit to Hungary, Erdogan negotiated a deal under which Hungarian energy group MVM will buy 300 million cubic metres of Turkish natural gas.

Erdogan also said that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan may visit Russia soon to discuss the grain deal, which saw wheat prices fluctuate.

"Soon, our Minister of Foreign Affairs might undertake a trip to Russia. Because discussing this matter face-to-face holds significant importance, and obtaining results in this manner would be much more accurate,” the Turkish leader said.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, signed by Russia and Ukraine in July 2022 following mediation by Turkey and the United Nations, allowed Ukraine to safely export wheat from ports on the Black Sea via Turkey.

One of the deal’s objectives was to avert famine in African and Asian countries after global food prices soared in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

However, in July 2023 Russia pulled out of the deal following a series of military setbacks in Ukraine, renewing fears of rising food prices around the world.

Turkey is currently engaged in "intense efforts" to renew the deal, Anadolu reported.

Erdogan told reporters that he also opposed a potential military intervention by ECOWAS states in Niger following a recent coup there. "Military intervention in Niger would mean spreading instability to many African countries," he said.

Russia has been accused of involvement in the military coup in Niger, with reports that coup leaders have asked for help from notorious Russian mercenary group Wagner against threatened intervention from neighbouring states.

On Tuesday, Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was spotted for the first time since leading a Wagner mutiny earlier this year, in what analysts believe is Africa.