On a visit to Moscow, Turkey's President Erdogan claimed that he was close to brokering a return to the grain deal that kept Ukraine's grain exports "separate" from the war.
Turkey is a NATO member, and Erdogan is keen to be perceived as a peace-maker. In January 2023, he appealed to Putin for a ceasefire to increase the chances of a peaceful settlement to the war.
The Times has claimed that Putin realised that his withdrawal from the grain deal was an own goal - costing Russia more than it gained. However, the British daily also urged caution regarding Putin's demand for payments via Swift for Russian food exports to be exempt from sanctions. This concession could, the daily suggested, open a back door for Russia to receive payments for other products too.
Sources: The Times Radio, Reuters
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