Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed grain supply issues and a potential regional gas hub in Turkey in their telephone conversation on Sunday, reported TASS. The Kremlin specified: “The implementation of the Istanbul agreements of July 22 on the export of Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea ports and the export of Russian agricultural produce and fertilizer was considered. This deal is complex, requiring the removal of barriers to relevant supplies from Russia in order to meet the requirements of the countries most in need. Vladimir Putin outlined his fundamental assessment of the situation around Ukraine.” (http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/70064 )
The Kremlin statement began that in the two heads of state’s Dec. 11 phone call, “Expanding bilateral cooperation in various areas was discussed in detail. In particular, the record high growth in trade was noted. The special importance of joint energy projects, primarily in the gas industry, was emphasized. Following the recent talks in Istanbul by Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller the discussion continued of the initiative to create a regional gas hub in Turkiye.”
Finally: “The Syrian settlement in the context of complying with the 2019 Russian-Turkish Sochi Memorandum of Understanding was also discussed. The two countries’ defense and foreign policy agencies will maintain close contacts in this regard.” In January 2017 Russia, Turkiye and Iran formed the Astana Process for peace in Syria, holding their first talks in the capital of Kazakhstan.
The Turkish Directorate of Communications issued a statement on the Erdogan-Putin call, saying among other things that “President Erdoğan expressed his sincere wish for the termination of the Russia-Ukraine war as soon as possible.” (https://www.iletisim.gov.tr/english/haberler/detay/president-erdogan-president-putin-of-russia-talk-over-phone_11122022 )
Reuters coverage of the discussion reported: “Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan discussed the Black Sea grain export agreement on Sunday [Dec. 11] with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine…. After his call with Putin, the Turkish presidency said Erdogan had called for a quick end to the conflict and said Moscow could start work on exporting more food products and commodities through the Black Sea grain corridor.
“Russia has urged the United Nations to push the West to lift some sanctions, to ensure Moscow can freely export its fertilizer and agricultural products—a part of the Black Sea grain deal that Moscow says has not been implemented.”
