Delegations From Russia, Ukraine, Turkey To Discuss Grain Export

Delegations from Russia, Ukraine, the United Nations, and Turkey are set to meet in Istanbul tomorrow to discuss opening transit corridors for the ~20m+ tonnes of Ukrainian grain stranded in Black Sea ports.

• The meeting is a significant development in the diplomatic process and comes following calls between Turkish President Recep Erdogan and Ukrainian and Russian Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin yesterday.
• According to Reuters, the proposed plan will have Ukrainian vessels assisting the navigation of mined waters under a Russia ceasefire.
• According to the same, report the ships will be inspected by United Nations officials to ease Russian fears of weapons smuggling.
• UN Sec Gen Antonio Guterres said: "We are working hard indeed but there is still a way to go."
• Erdogan has emerged as the NATO leader with most influence over Russian President Putin. Erdogan will meet with Putin on 19 July in Tehran, the first meeting between a NATO leader and Putin since the war began, and only Putin's second trip outside Russia in that period.
• Erdogan has a less maximalist approach to Russia and negotiations with Putin may the first credible avenue to negotiating a ceasefire. The meetings tomorrow may be demonstrate whether first stages of de-escalation can be mediated by Turkey.