Erdogan talked about working with Putin in the field of food security

Ankara, February 5 – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his work with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to deliver food to countries in need “causes some circles to worry.”

Earlier, Erdogan said that he had agreed with the President of the Russian Federation on the possibility of sending free Russian grain and fertilizers to the hungry countries of Africa. Putin pointed out in early September last year that the West exports most of the Ukrainian grain to its own countries, and not to the needy countries in Africa. He stated that Moscow is ready to provide the poorest countries for free with the amount of whole grain allocated to them under the grain deal.

“We are taking the right steps in world politics. There is no one in the world who can negotiate with Putin except me. On the one hand, I am negotiating with Zelensky. Let’s send grain,” said Mr. Putin, “I will turn it into flour and send it to poor African countries,” Erdogan said. In a meeting with young people in Aydin: “This worries some people, but we will do what we think is right.”

The grain deal, which was signed on July 22 by representatives of Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Nations, includes the export of Ukrainian grain, food and fertilizers across the Black Sea from three ports, including Odessa. The contract expired on November 18, but meant an automatic 120-day extension in the absence of objections from both parties. The deal itself is an integral part of the overall deal, which provides for, among other things, the liberalization of Russian exports of food and fertilizers – Moscow has indicated that this is exactly what has not been met. At the same time, there were assurances from the United Nations that restrictions would be lifted. This deal expires March 18th.