The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said in a discussion with the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, that he proposed increasing the volume of grain to be given free of charge to African nations facing hardship. The remark was reported by TASS, the Russian news agency, and reflects Ankara’s interest in expanding aid to the continent during a period of global food insecurity.
In the early days of September, discussions involving Russia, Türkiye, and Qatar focused on delivering one million tons of grain to the most impoverished African countries. Erdoğan noted, however, that this amount falls short of what is needed to meet the continent’s widespread hunger and development challenges. He emphasized that the scale of assistance should be calibrated to the real demands of African communities, not merely to satisfy a symbolic gesture.
Beyond immediate grain relief, the Turkish president reiterated his hope for the revival of the grain corridor agreement, which allows Ukrainian grain to be exported via the Black Sea. Erdoğan said he would request another message from the United Nations Secretary-General to Russia containing precise recommendations for implementing the agreement anew. This underscores Ankara’s view that a predictable, transparent mechanism is essential for stabilizing food supplies and enabling continued humanitarian shipments.
As leaders prepared for the G20 summit, discussions centered on ensuring full compliance with existing agreements, including the provision of Russian fertilizers to agricultural regions in need. Moscow, however, indicated that certain provisions in the memorandum related to export remained unmet, pointing to gaps that must be addressed to restore unimpeded trade and supply chains. The dialogue highlighted the fragility of multilateral efforts to secure food and fertilizer flows in a volatile geopolitical environment.
Earlier reports indicated that the United Nations had received Russia’s response to proposals concerning the grain agreement, signaling ongoing diplomatic engagement on the issue. The evolving exchanges reflect a broader attempt to balance humanitarian aid with political considerations while safeguarding food security for vulnerable populations across Africa and beyond.