Kremlin says Russia does not rule out possibility of reviving grain deal

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Kremlin spokesman Dmitriy Peskov said on Friday that Moscow does not rule out the possibility of an agreement to revive the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Speaking at a press briefing in Moscow, Peskov said Russia is open to dialogue on the revival of the 2022 deal, which was backed by Türkiye and the UN.

"The Kremlin does not exclude the possibility of any agreement. President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that he is open to agreements based on a comprehensive worldview," he said.

Peskov emphasized that all issues should be discussed in their entirety, saying: "It is not possible to remove some issues from the general context of the current situation. We need to consider everything as a whole."

Moscow launched its "special military operation" in Ukraine more than two years ago. The West has supported the Russian neighbor since then through military, economic and humanitarian means.

Regarding Türkiye's possible membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the bloc formed in 2001 which now has 10 members including Russia and China, Peskov said Ankara's obligations to NATO and the European Union should be taken into account when discussing such prospects.

Türkiye first hosted a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers in the Mediterranean city of Antalya in March 2022.

Those efforts led to the landmark grain deal in July 2022, but Moscow did not extend the agreement after July 2023, citing restrictions on Russian grain exports.