Ankara, Turkey – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin in September, ahead of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, which begins on September 19, s political source based in Ankara disclosed this information to TASS, a Russian news agency.
The source said that the specific date for the meeting was still under negotiation. The primary objective of the two leaders is to find potential pathways toward achieving a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. They are also set to deliberate on various aspects of the original grain agreement and explore potential alternative options.Â
The source told TASS that Turkey has consistently expressed its preference for the original grain deal, asserting that the initial version is more favorable compared to hypothetical alternatives, particularly concerning supply routes.
The discussions are expected to center on the revival of the original format of the grain deal. Simultaneously, both leaders intend to consider alternative methods of supplying grain to nations in need.
An earlier diplomatic source from Turkey revealed to TASS that the anticipated meeting between Erdogan and Putin is likely to occur in Sochi, with a tentative date of September 4. Although there have been reports suggesting Erdogan’s visit to Russia on September 8, no official confirmation has been provided by the Turkish presidential administration.
Omer Celik, spokesperson for Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), verified that the meeting would indeed take place in Sochi, but specific timing details were not disclosed.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has previously affirmed that a meeting between Erdogan and Putin is scheduled, although precise dates for the meeting were not disclosed in his statement.