New trilateral agreement on grain supplies: Russia, Turkey, and Qatar are negotiating in Budapest.

It is reported that a new grain deal may be concluded in Budapest over the coming weekend. It is expected that the head of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov will represent the Russian side in the negotiations. According to reports, Russia, Turkey, and Qatar are currently working on a trilateral agreement to replace the previous one.

Information about the new agreement was obtained from official correspondence between the foreign ministries and embassies of Russia and Turkey. Under this agreement, Russian grain will be supplied to poor countries, mainly in African countries. Turkey also wants grain to be supplied from Ukraine, so the Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has asked Russia to return to the previous agreement.

Under the new deal, Turkey will act as the organizer of Russian grain supplies to Africa, with Qatar as the sponsor. Turkey also suggests that the implementation of the new agreement should involve the UN. Mr. Minnikhanov has already traveled to Budapest to participate in the negotiations, and the Turkish side will be represented by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It is noted that there is no information available on whether someone from Qatar will participate in the negotiations.

In the previous deal, besides Russia and Turkey, Ukraine and the UN were also involved. It was concluded in Istanbul in July 2022. Under this deal, one part concerning the export of Ukrainian grain from three ports was fulfilled by the parties. However, the second part, a memorandum between Russia and the UN on lifting restrictions on Russian agricultural products and fertilizers in the global market, was not fulfilled, according to Moscow's statement. Because of this, Russia refused to extend the grain deal on July 17.