Turkish president to speak with Putin on grain deal in coming days

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday said he will have a phone call in the coming days with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to discuss the Black Sea grain initiative.

"We will have a phone call with Putin in two-three days," Erdogan said in an interview broadcast live on Turkish channels NTV and Star TV.

Erdogan said that the world appreciates Türkiye’s mediation efforts between Russia and Ukraine.

"We are already acknowledged in the world. Türkiye's success is on everyone's lips in the world," he added.

Last July, Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine signed a deal in Istanbul to resume grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports which were paused after the Russia-Ukraine war began in February 2022.

Erdogan announced the deal's extension on Saturday, one day before it was slated to lapse.

The president also recalled Putin's offer of sending grain to poor countries free of charge.

He added that Türkiye is preparing to buy wheat to turn it into flour and sending it to poor countries.

"(Together with Putin), We will take our steps in this area as well," Erdogan said.