Is Erdoan’s attempt to mediate between Russia and Ukraine a double trick?
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Kazakhstan on Friday.
During the meeting, Putin suggested that Turkey could be used as a gas supply hub in Europe. He said that sending gas to the European Union via Turkey is proving more reliable.
The gas supply of the Nord Pipeline between Russia and Germany was interrupted at the start of the Russo-Ukraine war and then completely stopped after the blast under the Baltic Sea. It is believed that the blast was done deliberately.
Putin said that the damage caused by the blast could be compensated by the Black Sea region, and Turkey could be made Europe’s biggest supply hub.
The Turkish president said he would strengthen the deal signed in July under which Ukrainian grain could be taken from the Black Sea to the international market. At present, this deal is till mid-November, which can be extended with the approval of Russia and Ukraine.
There was no talk on resolving Ukraine dispute – Russia
Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov said President Putin and Turkish President Erdoan did not talk about resolving the Ukraine dispute. Peskov said, “There was no talk on resolving the Russia-Ukraine dispute.”
Before the meeting, there were indications from Russia that Erdogan could “officially” mediate a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.
What was the role of Erdoan in the first place?
Despite the ongoing war on 23 July, a “mirror” agreement was reached between Ukraine and Russia, under which grain exports from Ukraine through the Black Sea began.
This decision marked the beginning of exporting millions of tons of grain lying in Ukraine in the midst of the war. Russia has said that it will not attack cargo ships carrying grain by sea. It will also not attack the ports from where food grains are being supplied.
