Initiative involving Qatar not alternative to grain deal - Putin

SOCHI. Sept 4 (Interfax) - Russia does not consider the initiative involving Qatar as an alternative to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters following his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday.

"As for grain, if we come back to it, we are not viewing the joint work with Turkey and possibly with Qatar to deliver 1 million tonnes of grain as an alternative to the Black Sea grain deal," Putin said.

"There is also Ukraine there, [a country] that has its own interests, we understand this all perfectly well, we are conscious of this," he said.

"So this is no substitute, but it is certainly a huge contribution on our part, it would be our huge contribution to resolving the food problems of African countries. These are quite obvious things," Putin said.