Former US general sees Turkish President Erdogan as essential player in brokering grain deal

By Jo Harper

KARPACZ, Poland (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin considers Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a "trusted negotiator," a retired US general said, expressing optimism about the resumption of grain trade via the Black Sea.

"To the extent that Putin sees Erdogan as the trusted negotiator, and maybe (Ukrainian President) Zelenskyy can too, then maybe we can have a breakthrough," retired US Air Force Brig. Gen. Robert Spalding told Anadolu on the sidelines of the Economic Forum in Karpacz, Poland.

In July, Russia said it would not extend an agreement to allow safe passage of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea rather than Mainland Europe to markets in the Middle East and Africa.

Erdogan hopes to revive the agreement, which is vital for global food supplies in Africa and the Middle East, as well as Asia.

"I think it's in the best interests of everyone if grain delivery can happen, so personally I don't care who is the one making this happen, but the fact that Erdogan is willing to do it and the two sides have an interlocutor then I say that's great," Spalding added.

On Monday, Putin said that a deal allowing Ukraine to export grain through the Black Sea would not be reinstated until Russia's demands on its own agricultural exports were met.