Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated today, Wednesday, that the grain export agreement through Black Sea ports will be one of the topics on the agenda for discussions between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan on Thursday and Friday. The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that Lavrov and Fidan will discuss a proposal from Moscow that offers an alternative to the Black Sea grain agreement when they meet this week.
According to the ministry, under the proposed arrangement, Russia will send one million tons of grain to Turkey at a discounted price, with financial support from Qatar, to process it in Turkey and send it to the countries in greatest need. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated, "We consider this alternative project to be the optimal practical solution to the Black Sea agreement," referring to the agreement from which Russia withdrew in July. It remains unclear what incentive Qatar might have to participate in this arrangement proposed by Russia.
Russia withdrew in July from the agreement mediated by Turkey and the United Nations that allowed Ukraine to export grain from its Black Sea ports.
