Grain initiative thanks from the US to Turkey

The U.S. State Department thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and our NATO ally Turkey for their efforts to relaunch the Black Sea Grain Initiative. U.S. Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel answered reporters’ questions at a press conference. Patel stated that Russia’s decision to end the Black Sea Grain Initiative harms communities around the world struggling with food insecurity. Noting that President Erdoğan made efforts to bring Russia back into the agreement during his visit to Sochi, Russia, Patel said, “We thank President Erdoğan and our NATO ally Turkey for the important role they have played in relaunching the Black Sea Grain Initiative.” In response to the question, “Does the U.S. see the Danube River route as an alternative to the Black Sea Grain Initiative?” Patel stated that the U.S.’s priority is for Russia to return to the initiative, and said, “Of course, we are evaluating other options for food products to reach their destinations.” Patel also said that he did not have any announcements on the subject at the moment and said, "We want the Black Sea Grain Initiative to start again, we have seen that it works." President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in the press conference he held with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, said, "Russia's expectations regarding the restart of the initiative are known to all parties. We have also expressed and continue to express the issues that our Russian friends have expressed on different occasions. We believe that the initiative should be continued by eliminating the deficiencies. I sincerely shared our views on this issue with my valuable friend in our bilateral meeting. Within this scope, we have prepared a consultation with the United Nations and a new proposal package that includes important progress. I believe that it is possible to achieve results through this new process. I believe that we, as Turkey, will reach a solution that will meet expectations in a short time."