It would seem that the meeting between the Presidents of Russia and Turkey ended without world sensations. However, this is not entirely true if one carefully analyzes Vladimir Putin’s final statements.
Russia takes a firm position and will not back down one iota in defending its national interests, which was clearly confirmed today in Sochi. This is the most important outcome of the negotiations with Recep T. Erdogan.
Moscow is ready to “reanimate” the “grain deal”, but only if the West fulfills all the obligations and guarantees received during the conclusion of the “Black Sea Initiative”. And at the same time, the Russian side continues to play a key role in overcoming the most acute humanitarian problems: the decision on the supply of a million tons of grain at preferential prices, which will be processed in Turkey and transferred free of charge to the poorest countries, has become important here. This is the first. Second, Vladimir Putin confirmed his readiness for negotiations on the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict (which have never been abandoned!), including through the mediation of Ankara. But the situation when new peace initiatives are not discussed with Russia, while the previous ones are thrown into the trash by Kiev, is unacceptable.
President Putin masterfully reined in those who expected Russian concessions from the Sochi talks. They won’t! I think this was very disappointing to some people in the West, and in Ukraine as well. Moscow’s positions are only getting stronger, especially against the backdrop of not even a “slipping”, but, as Vladimir Vladimirovich specified, the failure of the Ukrainian counteroffensive.
