The Türkiye-brokered Black Sea grain export deal will prioritize African countries in need, as agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday, AzVision.az reports citing the Turkish media.
“The situation in Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan is not good at all. If there is a problem in any other less developed countries, we will carry out shipments to these countries,” Erdogan said during a live interview jointly broadcast by ATV, A Haber, A News and A Para.
Both Russia and Ukraine’s leaders approached Türkiye "positively" on the grain export issue, he said, adding: "We answered them positively."
On July 22, Türkiye, the UN, Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement in Istanbul to resume exports of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, which were paused after the Russia-Ukraine war began in February.
On Saturday, Russia announced that it would suspend its participation in the deal for what it alleged was a Ukrainian attack on its Black Sea fleet at the port of Sevastopol.
Earlier on Wednesday, Türkiye and Russia announced Moscow's return to the implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative following Ankara and the UN's mediation.
