Russian experts claim that Erdogan has begun to pursue unfriendly policy towards Russia - BlackSeaNews editor-in-chief

He said this on Espreso TV. 

"The Russians are raising the stakes for negotiations with Erdogan. The grain corridor is 99% Erdogan and 1% UN. This is a personal geopolitical project of the Turkish president. Already, Russian experts say that Erdogan has begun to pursue an unfriendly policy toward Russia. Turkey has released the Azov fighters and unblocked Sweden's NATO membership. Erdogan said he supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the liberation of Crimea. And finally, he said that Ukraine deserves to be a NATO member," Klymenko emphasized.

The editor-in-chief of BlackSeaNews added that the Russians are forming their negotiating position.

"There will be a meeting between Erdogan and Putin. Russia is formulating its negotiating position. But there is no other way to combat the mine threat in the Black Sea than to create an international Turkish-Romanian minesweeping group of warships. Which, under any umbrella, would begin to clear the Black Sea of mines and ensure the naval presence of NATO ships in the Black Sea, including in the Ukrainian sector," Klymenko said.

Russia's termination of the grain deal

On 16 July, the last ship loaded with Ukrainian agricultural products under the initiative left the port of Odesa. On 17 July, Russia announced the termination of the grain deal. In response, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that it was necessary to continue using the grain corridor even despite Russia's withdrawal from the agreement. And Kuleba began urgent consultations at the UN.

The White House condemned Russia's withdrawal from the grain deal, which played a crucial role in reducing global food prices.

On 18 July, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there were "certain risks" for parties trying to resume the Black Sea Grain Initiative without Russia's participation.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that it was critical to restore transport links across the Black Sea to provide food to the world's most vulnerable countries and to preserve the ability to export Ukrainian goods.

On 19 July, it was reported that Ukraine was considering transporting food as part of the grain initiative through the territorial waters of Bulgaria and neighbouring Romania.

At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Defence issued a statement threatening ships heading to Ukraine's Black Sea ports. On the same day, Putin named the conditions for Russia's return to the grain deal and demanded their immediate implementation