Erdogan made these remarks to reporters on Monday while returning from a visit to Russia, where he discussed various regional and global issues with President Vladimir Putin.

Erdogan highlighted the importance of revitalizing the initiative and stated that Türkiye is in close contact with the United Nations (UN) regarding this matter. He revealed plans to discuss the issue with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during the upcoming UN General Assembly meeting in New York later this month.

"We appreciate and support the efforts of Guterres, the secretary-general," Erdogan emphasized.

The Black Sea grain deal, established last year with Turkish and UN mediation, played a significant role in alleviating the global food crisis. However, Moscow suspended its participation in the deal in July, citing concerns over Western failure to meet obligations on Russia's grain exports and issues related to Ukrainian grain shipments.

Türkiye asserts that the deal should resume, addressing identified deficiencies, as it remains the most viable model for "sustainable, secure, and lasting" cooperation among the involved parties.

Erdogan also discussed the technical aspects of a new package of proposals prepared by the UN during his visit to Moscow, in conjunction with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Russia has two key demands for the deal's revival: the inclusion of the Russian agricultural bank in the SWIFT international banking system and insurance for the ships used for grain transportation, given current sanctions and logistical challenges.

Erdogan expressed hope that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war would end with a "just and lasting" peace based on international law. Türkiye, commended for its mediation efforts between Ukraine and Russia, continues to urge both parties to seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict through dialogue. (ILKHA)