Erdogan discusses grain deal with Putin and Zelensky amid delays

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that he would speak to his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts within the next two days to discuss "strengthening" the safe passage of grain through the Black Sea agreement brokered by the United Nations and Turkey.

 Erdogan said at a conference in Istanbul that the two phone calls with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky are planned for Sunday.

The calls come amid outstanding issues in the July grain deal.

The agreement, which was recently extended to mid-March, allows for Ukrainian grain to be exported through a corridor in the Black Sea.

International watchdogs are checking ships off Istanbul.

So far, 13 million tons of grain and other food have been exported, the Istanbul Center said on Thursday, but noted delays in the process.

A total of 84 ships are waiting to be inspected off Istanbul, some of which have been waiting for more than a month, according to the center.

The official TRT news channel reported that Zelensky said in a video call at the Istanbul conference that there was still progress to be made in the agreement, and argued that Ukraine could only use half of its export capacity in its Black Sea ports due to delays by Russia. .

Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news