Putin and Erdogan Set to Convene After Collapse of Ukraine Agricultural Agreement

Russian President Vladimir Putin is slated to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Russian Black Sea city of Sochi next Monday, according to an announcement by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov this past Friday.

The confirmation of the meeting comes amid lingering questions regarding the timing and venue of the next summit between the two leaders. Earlier in the week, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov welcomed his Turkish counterpart in Moscow for diplomatic discussions.

In July 2022, Turkey, in cooperation with the United Nations, facilitated an agreement that permitted Ukraine to export grain and additional food products via three ports on the Black Sea. Concurrently, a separate memorandum of understanding was inked between Russia and the U.N., promising to resolve challenges impeding Russia’s global exportation of food and fertilizer.

However, Russia withdrew from both agreements earlier this year, stating that its stipulated conditions had not been fulfilled.

In separate news, Russian authorities reported this Friday that their air defense systems had intercepted drones targeting three western regions of the nation. Satellite imagery has suggested that a significant drone attack earlier this week resulted in the destruction of at least two Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military cargo aircraft at a Russian airfield.

Regional authorities reported that anti-aircraft defenses had neutralized drones over Kursk, Belgorod, and Moscow. Although air traffic was briefly suspended in Moscow, no substantial damage or injuries were confirmed, per official sources.

Drone incidents—attributed by Russia to Ukraine—have increasingly become a regular feature as the conflict enters its 19th month and Ukrainian forces mount a counteroffensive. Recent drone incursions have reached further into Russian territory.

Officials in Kyiv typically abstain from either confirming or denying involvement in these aerial assaults on Russian soil. The overarching Ukrainian strategy appears designed to rattle Russia and exert pressure on President Putin.

The origin of the drones—whether from within Ukraine or Russia—could not be definitively ascertained by Big Big News.

Satellite imagery analyzed by the Associated Press showed evidence of suspected Ukrainian drone strikes destroying at least two Ilyushin Il-76 military planes at a Russian base. The airfield in question, Princess Olga Pskov International Airport, serves both military and civilian functions and is situated approximately 700 kilometers (around 400 miles) north of the Ukraine border, near Estonia and Latvia.

The Il-76 serves as a backbone of the Russian military’s airlift capabilities, designed for operations in harsh environments. It is estimated that Russia has over 100 such aircraft in its inventory.

The AP analysis revealed burnt remnants of two Il-76 aircraft on separate parking pads. Eleven other Il-76 planes had been repositioned, perhaps as a defensive measure to prevent further attacks.

Local media reports indicate that Ukrainian drone strikes had damaged four Il-76 planes at the air base. The timing of the satellite image was recorded as 1303 GMT on Thursday. Subsequent social media footage showed more anti-aircraft activity around the base, though the nature of the activity remained ambiguous.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine stated on Thursday that his country had developed a long-range weapon capable of hitting targets 700 kilometers away, presumably referring to the recent air base attack. Further details were not disclosed.

Over the past year, Russian forces have deployed Iranian-manufactured exploding drones against Ukrainian targets.

Contributions to this report were made by Jon Gambrell of Big Big News, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

For further updates on the Ukraine conflict, visit Big Big News Russia-Ukraine Coverage.

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More about Russia-Turkey Meeting

• Big Big News Russia-Ukraine Coverage
• Associated Press Analysis on Russian Air Base Attacks
• Recent Developments in Russia-Turkey Relations
• Overview of the Ilyushin Il-76 Military Cargo Planes
• United Nations Involvement in Ukraine Grain Export Deal
• Ukraine’s Ministry of Strategic Industries
• Russian Foreign Ministry Statements
• Turkish Foreign Ministry Statements