Mr Putin was seen looking “flabby”, according to a correspondent for Abu Dhabi-based The National newspaper, as he waited about 50 seconds alone for the Turkish strongman to join him. Video shot by Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency shows the Russian president standing awkwardly and occasionally stirring as the camera focuses on his stern face as he stands alone. Finally, he is seen shrugging slightly as Mr Erdogan walks towards him, smiling, before the pair shake hands as they turn to face the cameras, while Mr Putin is seen grimacing. The pair were in Iran for a series of bilateral and trilateral talks with each other and with Iranian leaders as Russia seeks to strengthen ties with Iran. Erdogan was keen to discuss grain shipments from Ukraine and security in Syria, where both Russian and Iranian forces are said to be operating. Joyce Karam, senior correspondent for The National, commented on Twitter that it was “sweet payback for Erdogan who in 2020 was humiliated by Putin as he made him wait 2 minutes in a power play in Russia.” Al Arabiya news website reported in March 2020 that a video was released by Russian media showing Mr Erdogan and his delegation waiting for Mr Putin ahead of a meeting. It was only Putin’s second trip abroad since Russia invaded Ukraine in February. The war has resulted in ships not leaving Black Sea ports carrying Ukrainian grain, which is said to feed up to 400 million people worldwide, and has fueled a black market in allegedly looted Ukrainian wheat. The World Food Program says the resulting wheat shortages will push 47 million more people into acute hunger if shipments from Ukrainian-held ports do not resume. After meetings with Mr Erdogan and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mr Putin said Russia was ready to facilitate Ukrainian grain exports to the Black Sea, but also wanted remaining export restrictions lifted Russian grain. He said not all issues regarding grain shipments have been resolved yet “but the fact that there is movement is already good.” He added that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had offered to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, but Moscow saw no desire from Ukraine to meet the terms of what it described as a preliminary peace deal agreed in March. Image: Vladimir Putin awkwardly waited for the Turkish president for almost a minute There was no immediate response from the Ukrainian government to Mr. Putin’s statements. Analysts said the tripartite meeting with Iranian leaders and Mr Erdogan – one of the few Nato leaders not to impose sanctions on Russia – was a sharp message to the West about Russian plans to forge closer strategic ties with other non-western countries as the sanctions regime continues to bite. During his trip, Mr Khamenei spoke of his desire for long-term cooperation between Iran and Russia, telling Putin that the two countries must remain vigilant against “Western deception”. Image: Mr Putin met with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi yesterday during his visit to Iran It comes after the White House said Russian officials visited an airport in Iran at least twice to examine Iranian drones likely to be used in Ukraine. White House National Security Press Secretary John Kirby said Putin’s trip to Iran showed how isolated Russia has become. After the summit, Syria – a strong ally of Russia and Iran – said it was formally cutting diplomatic ties with Ukraine in response to a similar move by Kiev.
