Turkey's Erdogan makes no headway in getting Russia back to Ukraine grain deal

Nazlan Ertan

Aug 2, 2023

The TQ Samsun bulk carrier transits the Bosporus during the early morning hours on July 18, 2023, in Istanbul, Turkey. The TQ Samsun is the last grain ship, carrying corn and rapeseed, to leave Ukraine under the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Russia notified the United Nations that it would not extend the Turkey-UN-brokered deal that was signed on July 22, 2022, giving safe passage to vessels carrying grain and foodstuffs from Ukrainian ports. — Chris McGrath/Getty Images

The Kremlin showed no signs of returning to a critical Black Sea grain deal that allows Ukrainian grain to be exported to world markets, following a phone call Wednesday between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

Erdogan pledged, nonetheless, to continue “intense diplomatic efforts” to salvage the deal abandoned by Russia two weeks ago.

"President Erdogan expressed the importance of refraining from steps that could escalate tensions during the Russia-Ukraine war, emphasizing the significance of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which he described as a bridge of peace," a brief statement from Turkey’s Communication Directorate said after the two leaders’ phone conversation.

President @RTErdogan spoke by phone with President Vladimir Putin of Russia.

The two leaders agreed on President Putin’s visit to Türkiye.

Thanking his counterpart for the two amphibious fire-fighting aircraft Russia has sent for Türkiye’s fight against wildfires, President…
— Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye (@trpresidency) August 2, 2023