Erdogan urged Putin to stop the war in Ukraine immediately by starting negotiations
According to the official statement, Rezhep Erdogan stated the need for "immediate termination of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict through negotiations", to which the Turkish side attaches great importance. He praised Vladimir Putin for the "positive position" on the continuation of the "grain agreement" in the Black Sea, which on March 18, Ukraine, Russia and Turkey continued for another 120 days. The presidents also discussed measures to strengthen relations between their countries.
Erdogan noted that Turkey and Russia will develop steps of economic cooperation according to a plan agreed at a meeting in Sochi in August 2022. Putin and Erdogan have agreed to increase bilateral trade to $ 100 billion, as well as strengthen interaction in the energy, trade and economic spheres. On March 20, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation threatened the country's exit from the Grain Agreement.
The Russians decided to reduce the extension of the agreements to 60 days (until May 18), if all sanctions and restrictions on export of agricultural products were not removed from the Russian Federation. In this case, they promised to transfer grain to Africa. On March 24, German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz said Vladimir Putin did not want to have peace talks.