A German report outlines a plan where Russia, Turkey, and Qatar are shaping a new tripartite agreement intended to replace the stalled grain deal. The publication notes correspondence between Russian and Turkish diplomats from late July to early August, suggesting Moscow warned Ankara in advance about withdrawing from the previous arrangement. The proposed framework would channel Russian grain to poorer nations, with Turkey coordinating the process and Qatar providing sponsorship for supplies.
According to the report, a fresh pact could be finalized this weekend. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Tatarstan President Rustem Minnikhanov have traveled to Budapest to participate in the discussions, with Russia yet to confirm the new terms. Earlier, at the Russia-Africa summit, President Vladimir Putin indicated that free grain deliveries to African countries might start around October or November.
Breaking the grain deal
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan continues to pressure Moscow to restore the original grain corridor, even as new terms are being considered. An edition of Star had previously claimed that Turkey was not pursuing alternatives to the grain agreement, citing sources within the Turkish Ministry of National Defense.
One interlocutor noted that the Grain Corridor facilitated about 33 million tons of grain being shipped to needy countries during the year. The aim remains to reactivate the corridor, with no additional projects reported as in progress. Still, several nations are exploring alternative routes for shipments, the source added. The debate then turns to how merchant ships might safely navigate Turkish Straits amid any conflict. An official from the defense ministry suggested it could be feasible for ships to approach via the straits under certain conditions.
In an interview on Aug, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said the Turkish government could play a role in renewing the grain agreement. He recalled that last year the deal was reached through mediation by the United Nations and Turkish leadership, with separate understandings held with Kyiv and Moscow. He urged a creative approach to identifying viable solutions. The previous grain pact expired on July 18, and Moscow has refused to renew it, while the Russian defense ministry flagged areas in the Black Sea as temporarily dangerous for navigation. Moscow has emphasized that ships bound for Ukrainian ports may be treated as potential military cargo carriers.