Ukrainian MPs express gratitude to Turkish President for his efforts to restore grain deal

Deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine announced their expectations from the meeting of Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin in Sochi regarding the restoration of the grain deal.

MP Lyudmila Burmistr told Report's Eastern European bureau that Russia's actions regarding the grain deal can be described as blackmail at the international level: “In my opinion, this is no different than blackmail over the use of nuclear weapons. We are grateful to our Turkish partners for continuing their efforts to restore the grain deal so that Ukrainian grain reaches the countries that need it. We especially thank the head of Türkiye. Ukrainian grain is primarily needed by the global south. The success of these negotiations depends on a number of factors. It will depend primarily on what is in Vladimir Putin's mind. It is impossible to predict this. But I can say with certainty that the subject of these negotiations will not be territorial concessions by Ukraine. Ukraine will never surrender to blackmail, because Russia understands only one language: the language of power. We have shown it and we are still showing it on the battlefield.”

Another MP, Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, told Report that Russia's refusal to return to the grain deal even after negotiations with Türkiye shows that Moscow's goal is to escalate the situation around the world: “Currently, hunger is observed in several countries of Africa and Asia. There is great hope for Türkiye's role. But Russia actually uses hunger as a strategic weapon. In short, there were no expectations from these negotiations. It is clear that negotiating with terrorists is not realistic. I hope that from now on, the international community will understand that it will be possible to negotiate with Putin only in an international tribunal.”