November 2, 2022—A grain deal that lets grain flow from Ukraine and Russia through Turkey to the global economy is back on as of 12:00 p.m. today, according to Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Erdoğan announced that Russia is rejoining the agreement, known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative. He helped broker the deal with Ukraine and Russia along with the United Nations in July. It establishes a Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul, Turkey where officials inspect vessels for the sake of shipping food and fertilizer to the rest of the world.
Russian President Vladimir Putin left the deal over the weekend, citing Ukraine’s military actions against a key bridge as a reason. But Russian officials stayed engaged with the initiative, according to a recent UN update.
As of today, Russia is back in the trading initiative. According to reporting by the Financial Times, Putin wants priority to go to African nations.
Turkey-Russia Talks
As parts of the world pull apart at their seams in the midst of geopolitical and wartime conflict, Turkey straddles a course of its own. In October, Erdoğan met with Putin and discussed nuclear deals, the transportation of Russian gas through Turkey, and the grain agreement.
Today, Erdoğan defended the diplomatic approach he is taking while speaking to members of his party.
“Those, who just a few months ago were criticizing the balanced policy our country has been pursuing in the Russia-Ukraine crisis, now take us as an example all across the world,” Erdoğan said.
In March during the early days of the war, Turkey hosted foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine in a valiant effort to promote a negotiated solution.
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