Access the latest Maritime Security Threat Advisory for the week commencing 4th September 2023.

👉 This week represents a pivotal moment in negotiations around a potential return of Russia to the UN brokered grain deal.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is convening with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi on Monday 4th September, aiming to persuade Russia to re-engage in the Black Sea grain deal that was abandoned by Moscow in July. This pivotal meeting comes on the heels of discussions between Russian and Turkish foreign ministers last Thursday, during which Russia presented a set of conditions that the West must meet for the resumption of Ukraine's Black Sea exports.

Erdogan has previously expressed understanding towards Putin's stance on the issue. Back in July, he emphasised Putin's expectations from the Western nations concerning the deal, stressing the importance of their proactive response.

In an attempt to address the impasse, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres forwarded "concrete proposals" to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, aimed at facilitating Russian exports and reinstating the Black Sea initiative. However, Lavrov expressed Moscow's dissatisfaction with the proposal.

Highlighting Turkey's rigorous endeavours to breathe life into the deal, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described the ongoing efforts as a "process geared towards comprehending Russia's demands and accommodating them."