Russian and Turkish Presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan have never been able to fully agree on such complex issues as Ukraine, Syria or Nagorno-Karabakh, but they have reached agreement on some related aspects. The most recent of these was an agreement signed in Istanbul on July 22 on the export of Ukrainian grain, thanks to which three more cargo ships set sail this Friday, and four since August 1, and reached precisely through the mediation of the Turkish leader.
And the fact is that Erdogan seems to be committed to the idea of not giving up and continuing to try to negotiate with Putin in many other aspects. A new attempt to bring positions closer was made this Friday in the Russian resort town of Sochi on the Black Sea coast.
“With your direct participation and through the mediation of the UN Secretariat, the problem related to the supply of Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea ports has been resolved. Deliveries have already begun,” Putin admitted to Erdogan. In response, he stated that “the eyes of the world today are turned to Sochi (…) to dispel any doubts that the international community may have.”
The previous meeting of the two presidents took place on July 19 in Tehran, just on the eve of the agreement on unblocking the export of Ukrainian cereals. According to the Kremlin press service, Putin and Erdogan continue to negotiate the transfer of grain in order to consolidate and stabilize it so that the agreement can be extended after 120 days.
This was stated by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, stressing on Thursday the need for the Istanbul Agreement to be extended beyond the four months previously set. “We hope that the security guarantees of our partners in the UN and Turkey will continue to work, and the export of food products from our ports will become stable and predictable for all market participants,” said Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov.
According to Cavusoglu, quoted by the Turkish Anatolia Agency, what has already been achieved through diplomatic channels with grains could be the starting point for a “comprehensive ceasefire” that precedes the final cessation of hostilities in Ukraine. But Cavusoglu acknowledged that the situation is now “fragile because the war continues” and could even disrupt grain exports. Turkey believes that there will be no peace without Russia’s approval. “The international community cannot end the war in Ukraine by ignoring Russia,” warns Fakhrettin Altun, one of Erdogan’s top advisers.
Putin and Erdogan also spoke of “joint strategic projects,” bilateral cooperation, increased trade in what some interpreted as Ankara’s request for help to circumvent Western sanctions, and Russian construction of Turkey’s first nuclear power plant at Akkuyu.
Syria was another of the main topics of the summit. Turkey is threatening to launch a military offensive in the north of the country against the Kurds in order to establish a “security zone” from the border and inland for 30 kilometers. Moscow asked Ankara to abandon such an idea. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said “Turkey has legitimate security concerns regarding Syria” but urged not to “endanger the territorial integrity and political stability” of the Arab country. Putin and Erdogan have once again stated that their countries will fight existing terrorist groups in Syria.
The unusual outbreak of violence in Nagorno-Karabakh this week has also left a hole in the negotiations. On Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling for “moderation” and adherence to the ceasefire. Russia has deployed peacekeeping forces in one of the sectors of Nagorno-Karabakh. Turkey’s ally Azerbaijan said on Wednesday it had taken control of several positions and destroyed Armenian targets in an offensive that left at least three dead.
Turkey, which is helping Kyiv with military drones and other weapons, condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine from the outset, but did not join the sanctions against Russia. Ankara has become the main mediator in organizing peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv.
Source: El Correo
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