Russia reiterates it will return to the 'grain deal' only after lifting Western restrictions on Russian agricultural exports

Russia has refused to return to the Black Sea Initiative.

Vladimir Putin said this after a meeting with Turkish President Recep Erdoğan.

"Russia was forced to make this decision. Because Western countries continue to block the implementation of the grain deal, in particular, with regard to the access of Russian agricultural producers to the global market," the Russian president said.

The agreement between Russia, Türkiye, and Qatar is not supposed to replace the grain deal but will be a "huge contribution" to the alleged solution of the problem. 

Putin also announced the supply of one million tonnes of grain for processing to Türkiye to be transported to the "poorest" countries in Africa.

Türkiye is allegedly ready to supply poor countries with Russian grain in the form of flour.

Erdogan said that he would continue to work on the resumption of the Black Sea Initiative.

It will be recalled that on September 4, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Turkish President Recep Erdoğan in Sochi, Russia. At the meeting, Erdoğan planned to convince Russia to return to the Black Sea Initiative.