Putin: Ukraine's Counteroffensive is Failure, Not Stalemate
13:44 GMT 04.09.2023 (Updated: 14:49 GMT 04.09.2023)
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On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a press conference after bilateral talks that Ukraine's counteroffensive was a failure, not a stalemate. He added that he hoped Ukraine's future counteroffensive would also be a failure.
Putin said that Russia is ready to revive the Black Sea grain deal and will do so immediately when all agreements are implemented.
"I want to reiterate our principled position that we will be willing to consider the possibility of reviving the grain deal. I told the President about it again today. And we will do it as soon as all the agreements stipulated in it are fully implemented," Putin said.
He added that Russia would continue to export food and fertilizers.
"While Russia clearly provided security guarantees for shipping under this [grain] deal, the other side used humanitarian corridors for terrorist attacks against Russian civilian and military facilities," Putin told a press conference.
Western countries have lied to Russia about the implementation of the grain deal obligation, Putin stressed.
Russia is ready to fully meet Turkiye's grain needs, Vladimir Putin added.
"Turkiye is our great partner. Turkiye has a large flour-milling processing industry, we know this and we will fully meet the needs of the Turkish Republic," the Russian leader said.
Putin stressed that Russia has always been, will be a reliable and responsible supplier of gas, intends to continue supplying gas to Turkiye and third countries.
"I would like to emphasize that Russia has always been and will continue to be a reliable, responsible supplier of gas. We intend to continue to provide the Turkish economy with this cheap, but highly efficient and environmentally friendly type of fuel. Moreover, we are ready to export gas in transit through Turkey to consumers in third countries, where partners are interested in this,” Putin said.
He added that relations between Russia and Turkiye are developing successfully in all areas and that the meeting was successful.
"The cooperation between Russia and Turkiye, which is based on the principles of good neighborliness, partnership and mutual benefit, is successfully developing in all areas. Today's talks, as always, were held in a constructive and businesslike atmosphere," Putin said.
According to Putin, there is a tendency to use national currencies in settlements between Russia and Turkiye, and the share of euros and dollars is decreasing.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has thanked his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for inviting him to Sochi for talks.
"I thank my dear friend Putin for the kind invitation and hospitality," Erdogan told a news conference after the talks.
He also said Ankara was grateful to Moscow for its help in extinguishing forest fires.
