EU comments on 'grain talks' between Putin and Erdogan

Janusz Wojciechowski, European Commissioner for Agricultural Policy and Rural Affairs, said this during a telethon.

He emphasized that only Russia would be happy with the scenario of blocking Ukrainian imports. Therefore, he spoke about a "plan B" in case Erdogan does not convince Putin of the future of the agreement today.

"We have only three options. One of them is to block Ukrainian imports. This is unacceptable, because only Russia will be happy with this. The second is to open the market to Ukraine completely. This is a drama for farmers from the frontline countries. The third option is to support Ukrainian exports, Ukrainian transit, and extend this regional ban for the five member states until the end of the year," Wojciechowski said.

The European Commissioner for Agriculture has warned that by ousting Ukraine from global agricultural markets, Russia, which continues to shell Ukrainian port infrastructure, could take a competitive niche. After all, Russian grain, unlike Ukrainian grain, will be able to reach its final destinations unhindered.

The markets of Ukraine's neighboring countries, which have been its main consumers since the beginning of the war, are now closed to protect their farmers. The European Commission is still considering whether to open them after September 15, when the current restrictions expire. An official in charge suggests extending them until the end of the year, and in turn providing Ukrainian exporters with subsidies that they can use to deliver their agricultural goods to EU seaports.

What is known about the meeting between Erdoğan and Putin

On July 16, the last shipment of Ukrainian agricultural products under the grain initiative left the Odesa port. Russia subsequently announced the termination of the "grain agreement" on July 17. In response, Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed the need to continue using the grain corridor despite Russia's withdrawal from the agreement.

On August 2, it was reported that South African countries are working to persuade Russia to reengage in negotiations regarding the safe export of grain from Black Sea ports, which Russia had abandoned the previous month.

On August 9, President Erdogan expressed his intention to reinstate the grain agreement on a larger scale and urged Western nations to fulfill their commitments.

Ihor Semyvolos suggested that the outcome of the Erdogan-Putin meeting could involve Russia returning to the "grain deal."

On August 18, it was reported that Russia, Turkey, and Qatar were allegedly working on a new grain agreement without Ukraine.

By August 20, Turkey had been actively striving to reinstate the export of agricultural products from Ukraine, as the termination of the "grain deal" had global consequences, leading to a 15% increase in grain prices worldwide.

On August 29, Erdogan's party confirmed his meeting with Putin in Sochi.

On August 31, ahead of the Erdogan-Putin meeting, the foreign affairs ministers of Turkey and Russia met in Moscow to discuss the "grain agreement" and peace in Ukraine.