Russia-Turkiye agree on need to lift barriers for sake of grain deal

Russia and Turkiye have agreed that obstacles must be lifted to ensure freer Russian fertilizer and grain exports, and enable a key wartime deal ensuring Black Sea shipments of Ukrainian grain to be extended beyond May.

"The grain corridor is proof that dialogue and negotiations are working. We attach importance to the continuation of the agreement," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said.

His remarks came during a joint news conference with his visiting Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in the capital city Ankara.

Lavrov threatened to abandon the landmark initiative that allowed vital exports to leave blocked ports in the Black Sea if obstacles to Russian shipments remained.

He warned the West that unless obstacles to Russia's grain and fertilizer exports were removed, Ukraine would have to export grain over land, and Moscow would work outside the landmark grain export initiative.

The grain deal, brokered by Türkiye and the United Nations last July, ensures the safe passage of grains and other commodities from Ukrainian ports despite a Russian naval blockade.

The deal was renewed twice. Last month, Russia said it would extend it for another 60 days even though the U.N., Ukraine and Türkiye had pushed for a repeat 120-day rollover, as in the original agreement.

Lavrov said he and Çavuşoğlu discussed "a failure" to implement the terms of the deal.

While the West has not placed sanctions on Russia's food and fertilizer exports, Moscow says they are compromised by obstacles, such as insurance and payment hindrances, that it says must be removed.