Erdogan And Putin Hold Call Amid Concern Over Black Sea Grain Deal

Turkish President Recep Erdogan and Russian President Vladmir Putin have held a call amid concerns that Russian's suspension of the Black Sea grain corridor deal could lead a food security crisis in states dependent on food imports.

• According to Erdogan's spokesperson, "Erdogan told Putin that he is sure a solution-orientated cooperation will be established regarding the grain deal."
• Erdogan spox: "Turkey is making efforts will all sides to solve problems about implementation of the grain deal."
• Dmitri Alperovitch at Silverado writes: "Erdogan is engaging in shuttle diplomacy between Putin and [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky to revive the grain deal, of which Turkey has been one of the key beneficiaries."
• The New York Times reports that three ships carrying corn, wheat and sunflower oil have left Ukrainian ports en route to Istanbul today but it is unclear how long shipments can proceed without the cooperation of Moscow.
• Putin said yesterday, “we are not saying that we are stopping our participation in this operation. We are saying that we are pausing it.”
• The US State Department said that Russia's decision to suspend the deal amounts to a form of "collective global punishment."