Moscow: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia is actively examining Trkiye’s proposal to initiate peace talks with Ukraine and to revive the grain export agreement. In his remarks, Lavrov acknowledged Trkiye’s efforts, particularly highlighting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s involvement in seeking a resolution to the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
According to Anadolu Agency, Lavrov mentioned in an interview with Russian state news agency RIA that Trkiye had previously facilitated negotiations for the only peace treaty between Russia and Ukraine. This included agreements that allowed Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea, known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Lavrov noted that Kyiv later rejected or failed to implement these agreements. He accused the Ukrainian side of declining to finalize the draft peace treaty and using the Black Sea corridor for attacks on Russian vessels and infrastructure.
Lavrov further stated that Russia’s obligations under the deal, which were aimed at easin
g access to global markets for Russian agricultural products and fertilizers, remain unfulfilled. He highlighted that President Vladimir Putin, during his meeting with President Erdogan at the BRICS summit in Kazan, reiterated Russia’s willingness to continue discussions on Black Sea navigation. Lavrov also mentioned that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres shared similar sentiments, and all proposals are currently being reviewed by the relevant authorities.
Trkiye had initially hosted a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers in Antalya in March 2022. These efforts resulted in the landmark Black Sea grain deal in 2022. However, Moscow chose not to extend the agreement after July 2023, citing restrictions on Russian grain exports.