Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko announced that Moscow and Ankara have reached an in-principal agreement to move one million tons of Russian grain toward underdeveloped nations, with deliveries to be scheduled later. The report surfaced through DEA News and points to ongoing negotiations on the logistics, financing, routes, and participant nations involved in this effort.
In parallel, sources cited by Interfax indicate that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is coordinating grain shipments to Turkey with the involvement of Qatar, illustrating a broader regional framework for grain flows in the region.
Back in July 2022, a four-way accord was signed in Istanbul involving Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Nations. The goal was to establish a corridor for Ukrainian agricultural exports through the Black Sea. By mid-2023, questions about the future of this arrangement intensified as Russia signaled its withdrawal from the deal.
On July 17, 2023, Russian officials suggested that the loss from the agreement could reach around one billion dollars. That same day, Ukraine’s foreign ministry stated that the termination of the grain corridor could not be compensated merely through alternative land deliveries, highlighting the complex interdependence of maritime routes and land logistics for grain markets.
In August 2023, Ukraine reached out to several European Union member states with a request to keep an alternative grain corridor operational without Russia’s participation. The Wall Street Journal reported that Russia’s exit from the agreement disrupted the export flow for a large portion of Ukrainian grain, underscoring the vulnerability of global food supply chains to shifts in supply arrangements.
As events unfolded, discussions about shared interests between Africa and Russia emerged, with officials emphasizing potential common ground in trade and food security. The evolving situation continues to influence regional grain trade strategies and the outlook for international food aid and market stability.