Turkish diplomacy weighs a path to restart the Black Sea grain corridor
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s upcoming visits to Kyiv and Moscow are positioned to influence the potential revival of the Black Sea humanitarian corridor. Yet the deciding moment is anticipated to come from a high-level meeting between Turkish and Russian leaders. A diplomatic source in Turkey shared this assessment with TASS, underscoring the strategic role of Ankara in shaping the next steps.
Fidan is slated to travel to Kyiv on August 25 before continuing to Moscow. Turkish press reports suggest that a summit between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Vladimir Putin could take place in September, likely in Russia, as part of ongoing diplomatic choreography around the grain deal.
One source cited by the agency stated that, given the progress achieved by Turkey in its discussions with the participants in the grain agreement, the United Nations, and Western partners, there are grounds to consider a restart of the agreement. This echoes the careful optimism surrounding the negotiations, even amid lingering questions about guarantees and implementation of terms.
Background to the issue traces back to the original grain agreement signed on July 22, 2022, in Istanbul. The arrangement involved Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and the United Nations and outlined Russia’s role in facilitating the export of grain, food, and fertilizers from three Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea, including Odessa. Concurrently, a memorandum in Istanbul between Russia and the United Nations committed the organization to removing obstacles to the export of Russian agricultural products and fertilizers to global markets.
The deal officially expired on July 17, 2023. Since then, discussions have focused on whether and how to renew the agreement, with Russia indicating readiness to rejoin only if its own obligations under the pact are fully met. In the meantime, the last vessel previously covered by the grain corridor has departed from the Black Sea, marking a pause in the throughflow that many nations rely on for food security.
As the diplomacy unfolds, observers watch closely for signs of concrete commitments, verified guarantees, and a credible mechanism to ensure safe passage and predictable deliveries. The conduct of talks, the level of cooperation among the involved parties, and the influence of global institutions will all be scrutinized in the days ahead. The outcome could affect not only regional stability but also global grain markets and supply chains that have been disrupted by the conflict and related sanctions.
Analysts emphasize that the most important developments will emerge from the conversations at the highest political levels, where assurances, timelines, and enforcement mechanisms must be clarified. For policymakers and international partners, a successful restart would require clear accountability, transparent monitoring, and steady communication to prevent missteps that could derail fragile progress. The ongoing dialogue highlights the intricate balance between humanitarian aims and geopolitical calculations that continue to shape the corridor’s future.
In this evolving scenario, Ankara’s role remains pivotal, with Turkish diplomacy aiming to align multiple strategic objectives: ensuring unhindered humanitarian access, stabilizing regional trade routes, and maintaining a constructive channel with both Kyiv and Moscow. The coming weeks will likely reveal whether the groundwork laid in previous rounds can translate into a formal revival of the grain agreement and the resumption of the Black Sea corridor for grain and related agricultural exports.