Volodymyr Dzhabarov, the First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council International Relations Committee, noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared visibly buoyant about the grain agreement during his talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He conveyed this reaction through his Telegram channel, commenting on Zelensky’s call for an early renewal of the deals, regardless of Moscow’s stance.
“Zelensky seems clearly energized. Ukrainian grain exports from the ports of Odesa and Mykolaiv can hardly move without Russia’s position. Turkey’s leader is weighing negotiations with Russia on this matter. Yet, according to some foreign outlets, Erdogan pressed anti-Russian lines during his meeting with Zelensky,” the message stated.
Dzhabarov also wished for the reports about Erdogan’s remarks to Russia to be inaccurate. He warned that if Erdogan makes several genuinely anti-Russian declarations, it could influence Moscow–Ankara relations in meaningful ways.
The grain agreement was signed in late July 2022 with the participation of Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, and the United Nations. The accord creates safe corridors for the export of Ukrainian grain and was renewed multiple times over nearly a year despite Moscow’s criticisms. Russia has demanded several concessions, including reconnecting Rosselkhozbank to the SWIFT system, ensuring the continued supply of agricultural machinery, spare parts, and services, and lifting restrictions on insurance and reinsurance as well as bans on port access. The pact was set to expire on July 17, 2023, and at that time Moscow’s foreign ministry indicated there was no immediate reason to extend it.
In a broader political shift, former Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled Russia’s withdrawal from the grain treaty, underlining the geopolitical tensions surrounding the agreement and the strategic calculus behind food security in the region.
Observers note that the negotiations around grain exports are deeply entwined with broader security and economic concerns. The intricate balance between keeping the corridors open, protecting agricultural livelihoods in Ukraine, and addressing the risk exposures for international buyers continues to shape the messaging from Kyiv, Ankara, and Moscow. The evolving stance of Turkey, a key transit and political intermediary, remains pivotal to whether the corridors can function reliably, even as the war-torn region seeks stability and predictability in commodity flows. Attribution: This synthesis draws on contemporary reports and official statements from multiple state actors and outlets to reflect the current state of the discussions around the grain deal and its associated political dynamics.