putin refuses to talk to Erdogan about the grain deal
One of the reasons for this, the WSJ believes, is Turkey's release of Ukrainian Azov commanders
russia's decision to withdraw from the deal that allowed Ukrainian grain to be exported around the world is a risky gamble by russian dictator vladimir putin that risks diplomatic tensions with his country's two most influential partners, China and Turkey.
At the same time, putin ignores Turkish President Recep Erdogan's requests for a dialogue on russia's return to the grain deal.
Source. The Wall Street Journal reports.
In recent weeks, Erdogan has repeatedly stated that he wants to hold talks with putin, but the conversation has not taken place. The Turkish side has been making it clear to the kremlin through other channels that it is ready to talk, sources say.
The deadline will come in September, when Ukrainian elevators will begin to fill with grain from the new harvest.
The WSJ suggests that the russian side's prudishness is probably due to Turkey's transfer of military commanders from Azovstal to Ukraine and the approval of Sweden's application to NATO, the newspaper writes.
China, where a quarter of Ukraine's grain goes through the grain corridor, would also like to see russia return to the agreement.
"I think that putin no longer trusts Erdogan as much as he used to," said Gulru Gezer, a former counselor at the Turkish Embassy in moscow.
On July 17, russia withdrew from the grain agreement, which allowed Ukraine to export grain through the Black Sea starting in the summer of 2022. This happened a week after the "stab in the back" from Turkey and a few hours after a new explosion on the Crimean bridge.
moscow will have a chance to return to the grain agreement at putin's August meeting with Erdogan – and it is likely that it will take advantage of it: because russia's economic dependence on the main beneficiaries of the agreement, China and Turkey, is too strong, the newspaper writes.
Background. Meanwhile, British intelligence has reported that the russian navy is preparing to blockade Ukraine in the Black Sea.
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