Putin to host Turkish Prez Erdogan next week

Russian President Vladimir Putin will host Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan for talks in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.

His remarks came after weeks of speculation about when and where the two leaders might meet next.

Earlier this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov hosted his Turkish counterpart for talks in Moscow.

Turkey, together with the United Nations, brokered a deal in July 2022 that allowed Ukraine to ship grain and other foodstuffs from three Black Sea ports.

A separate memorandum between the UN and Russia, agreed at the same time, pledged to overcome obstacles to Moscow's shipment of food and fertiliser to world markets.

However, Russia pulled out of the deals earlier this year, claiming that its conditions hadn't been met.