In a recent development, the Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, has refuted claims made by Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan regarding a grain deal between Russia and Turkey. Peskov stated that no "new statements" have been made by Russia regarding the agreement.
President Erdoğan announced on July 13 that there was a "mutual understanding" between him and Russian president Vladimir Putin regarding the extension of the grain deal. However, Peskov's remarks contradict this assertion and suggest that no new agreements have been reached.
The grain deal, which was signed approximately five months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, is scheduled to expire on July 17. President Putin has previously expressed his reluctance to renew the deal due to obstacles faced by Russia's own grain exports.
Just a day before Erdoğan's statement, Putin had emphasized that the extension of the deal would only be considered if all of Russia's demands were met. This stance has raised concerns internationally, with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, warning that failure to extend the agreement could have serious consequences for global food security.
“Russia has a responsibility to prolong it (the deal), otherwise global food insecurity will be the consequence. So now the ball is in president Putin's court and the world is watching,” Ursula von der Leyen stated.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed that Putin and Erdoğan have been engaged in discussions aimed at ensuring the continuous supply of wheat to developing countries, independent of any other parties. The precise implications of Lavrov's statement remain unclear, but it is speculated that Russia may be exploring ways to increase the export of its own grain as well as grain from occupied territories of Ukraine.
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