Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba stated that Kyiv will not concede on resuming the grain agreement, a point echoed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. As reported by the Strana.ua Telegram channel, Kuleba conveyed this stance during a telethon broadcast, underscoring Kyiv’s determination to keep the agreement intact and any future arrangements aligned with Ukraine’s strategic interests. The minister emphasized that before Erdogan met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, Ukrainian diplomats had conducted extensive discussions with Turkish officials, sharing information openly and clearly to ensure mutual understanding of Kyiv’s position. The message was explicit: Ukraine must not become hostage to pressure tactics and will stand firm on all critical issues, including sanctions pressure against Russia, should the need arise. The exchange highlighted Kyiv’s readiness to defend key parameters of the international response and to resist any efforts to erode the sanctions regime or grain export safeguards that support global food security. Former Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that the settlements brokered through Erdogan were discarded in Kiev, arguing that Erdogan has consistently valued a resolution to the conflict and has treated the talks with considerable importance. In Moscow’s reading, these efforts by the Turkish leader were undermined by Kiev’s decisions. The latest development underlines a clear division of approach: Moscow asserts that progress remains possible through dialogue, while Kyiv signals unwavering resistance to concessions that could compromise national or regional interests. The last ship previously covered by the grain agreement has now departed the Black Sea route, marking a tangible end to the current phase of the arrangement and signaling the need for renewed diplomatic paths to address food security and regional stability in the Black Sea basin.
