The leaders of Turkey and Russia met on Sept. 4 in Russia’s southern city of Sochi, where they discussed regional developments, bilateral ties, and the stalled Black Sea Grain Initiative. There had been hopes that the meeting would yield a breakthrough regarding the stalled Russia-Ukraine grain deal. But, due to complex geopolitical circumstances, these hopes failed to materialize. At a joint press conference held after the meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Western countries and the United Nations were still refusing to honor key parts of the deal. Related Stories “The termination of the Black Sea Initiative was certainly discussed [at the meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan],” the Russian leader said. “But the West still refuses to meet Russia’s requirements—namely, the unblocking of Russian grain exports,” he added.
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