Vladimir Putin to Visit Turkey for Summit with Erdogan, His First NATO Trip Since Ukraine War

Discussing Black Sea grain exports, energy cooperation, Syrian security, Ukraine war, etc.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a summit with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the end of this month.

According to Bloomberg News, on the 4th (local time), Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced it on a local TV program. This will be his first visit to a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member country since invading Ukraine two years ago.

At the summit, Presidents Putin and Erdogan are expected to discuss the issue of Black Sea grain exports. Russia has signed a Black Sea Grain Agreement to guarantee Ukraine’s grain exports passing through the Black Sea under Turkey’s mediation. However, it unilaterally declared the suspension of the agreement last July, citing non-compliance with its domestic-related agreement.

Energy cooperation and Syrian security issues are also expected to be on the table. Russia has faced sanctions from Western countries since the Ukraine war, and Turkey has imported large amounts of cheap Russian energy amid economic difficulties. Discussions or progress are being made on energy cooperation projects between the two countries, including constructing a natural gas hub and Turkey’s first nuclear power plant.

Yuri Ushakov, a close aide to President Putin, also said that the Ukraine war is likely to be a significant issue at the summit between the two countries.

President Putin has been restricted from visiting foreign countries due to an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) based on allegations of war crimes. However, Turkey is not obligated to abide by this ruling because it did not sign the Rome Statute, which established the ICC.