- Turkey Pushes to Revive Black Sea Shipping Talks Amid Ongoing Conflict.
- Putin Reviews Erdogan’s Proposal for Renewed Black Sea Shipping Dialogue.
- Turkey and UN Seek Increased Black Sea Shipping as Naval Tensions Persist.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan recently offered to restart negotiations on shipping at the Black Sea, but he said he hasn’t yet looked at the relevant documentation. Turkey and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have been urging expanded merchant shipping activity through the Black Sea, which has developed into a naval war zone since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year, reports Reuters.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative
Putin told Russian state television that Erdogan had “once again renewed these proposals to continue contacts related to shipping in the Black Sea, (and) on some other issues”.
Putin met Erdogan and Guterres at the BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan.”I haven’t even had time to read the materials” Putin said. “Well, let’s see. We’ve never refused this.”
Background on the Black Sea Grain Initiative
Turkey and the United Nations played an important role in negotiating the Black Sea Grain Initiative agreement signed in July 2022, which enabled the safe exportation of nearly 33 million metric tons of grain from Ukraine across the Black Sea even while hostilities continued. Russia, however, ended its participation after a year, citing issues with obstacles to its food and fertiliser exports.
Erdogan’s Push for Peace Talks and Ceasefire Efforts
Erdogan told reporters on the way back from Kazan that Putin was “engaged in a search in terms of achieving a permanent ceasefire”.Erdogan said he had discussed the grain corridor with Russia, and that Putin had also discussed a possible swap of prisoners.“Our wish is to start peace negotiations between the two countries as soon as possible, and reach a beneficial outcome,” Erdogan said.
Putin’s Perspective on the Future of the Conflict
“Any outcome should be in favour of Russia, I speak bluntly, without any hesitation, and should proceed from the realities that are taking shape on the battlefield,” Putin said.
Turkey’s diplomatic efforts continue to push for peace, while the conflict’s trajectory remains heavily influenced by the realities on the ground.
Did you subscribe to our daily Newsletter?
It’s Free Click here to Subscribe!
Source: Reuters
