The summit will cover various crucial topics, including bilateral relations, the Ukraine crisis, and the expired Black Sea Grain Initiative, also known as the grain deal.
Sputnik India provides a preview of the Putin-Erdogan talks today, highlighting the key issues on Russia and Turkiye's agenda.
Grain Deal: Key Issue on Agenda
One of the significant issues on the table during the Putin-Erdogan talks is the Black Sea Grain Deal.
The deal, mediated by Turkiye and the United Nations, aimed to facilitate Russian grain and fertilizer exports.
"There are very high hopes for these negotiations, in many ways they will show clarity on the future [of the grain deal], all relevant departments [of Turkiye] are working in this direction. The process is coordinated with the UN, they will also follow these negotiations. We very much hope that they will be held constructively and opportunities will be opened for the resumption of the work of our initiative," a diplomatic source in Ankara stated.
Moscow has repeatedly highlighted that the deal's component on reconnecting Russian banks to SWIFT and unblocking the Tolyatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline has not been fulfilled.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, in collaboration with the UN, has proposed new ideas to resume the initiative. While UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has sent concrete solutions to Lavrov, Russia has expressed concerns about the lack of guarantees.
Addressing the Ukraine Conflict
With recent reports suggesting Erdogan's interest in mediating the Ukraine crises, discussions during the meeting are likely to touch upon this issue. Erdogan is expected to offer Putin the resumption of peace talks with Ukraine.
However, Russia has made it clear that it finds Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's peace plan unacceptable. The talks between Lavrov and Fidan further emphasized Moscow's stance on this matter.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks with the media as he arrives for a NATO summit in Vilnius
© AP Photo / Mindaugas Kulbis
It remains to be seen how the two leaders will approach this sensitive topic and whether any progress towards a resolution can be made.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties
The Putin-Erdogan talks will also provide an opportunity for both leaders to discuss and strengthen the already robust bilateral ties between Russia and Turkiye.
In recent years, economic cooperation between the two countries has flourished, with trade turnover reaching a record $62.4 billion in 2022, marking an 86 percent increase from the previous year.
The potential discussion of turning Turkiye into a gas hub and other energy projects highlights the growing collaboration in the energy sector.
Additionally, Russia's support in providing foreign exchange earnings through tourism and investments has helped stabilize Turkiye's volatile lira. The meeting will likely focus on expanding and diversifying the bilateral relationship to foster long-term economic and political cooperation.
De-Dollarization Efforts
Another noteworthy aspect of the Putin-Erdogan talks is the ongoing de-dollarization efforts between Russia and Turkiye.
Both countries have expressed their desire to reduce their dependence on the US dollar in bilateral trade.
In 2022, the two leaders agreed to start using the ruble in their trade transactions, with a gradual transition towards national currencies. Turkiye's Central Bank has also taken steps to boost de-dollarization and limit Turkish lira government bond yields. This move aligns with the global trend of countries seeking alternatives to the US dollar, given the weaponization of the currency by the United States. The discussions between Putin and Erdogan may explore further avenues to promote de-dollarization and strengthen their economic independence.
Regional Security and Cooperation
The summit will likely touch upon regional security concerns and cooperation between Russia and Turkiye.
Both countries have been actively involved in addressing regional conflicts, such as the Syrian crisis. While their approaches have differed at times, they have managed to find common ground and cooperate in various areas.