FM Kuleba: Only Erdoğan can return Putin to grain deal

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan are coordinating their efforts to return Russia to the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

"Ukraine is coordinating [efforts] with Erdoğan to return Putin to the Black Sea grain deal, and Erdoğan is coordinating with Zelensky. This is a common interest," Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba told Ukrinform in a comment.

Ukraine’s top diplomat expressed the opinion that President Erdoğan is the only person who can return Putin to the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

As reported, on July 17, the Russian side sent Türkiye, Ukraine, and the UN its objections to the continuation of the grain deal and de facto terminated its validity.

The UN said that food prices around the world were increasing, exacerbating the energy and financial crises, as a result of the termination of Russia's participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the threat to shipping.

At the same time, on August 2, Erdoğan discussed the Black Sea Grain Initiative in a telephone conversation with Russian president Vladimir Putin and agreed on his visit to Türkiye.