Turkey has been in favor of Russia’s return to the Black Sea Grain Initiative from the very beginning, as the agreement without Moscow may lead to negative consequences, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said.
Earlier in the day, Hakan said that grain deal alternatives have risks.
"Turkey cannot encourage the bombing of ports and transport vessels that play a key role in the transport of grain. For this reason, we have always believed that Russia should be brought back into the equation [grain deal] from the very beginning. We always foresaw that we would face similar scenes in a solution where Russia would not be in the solution. Therefore, we will continue our diplomatic efforts," Fidan said during a press conference in Kiev, as broadcast by the Turkish news agency.
The grain deal expired on July 18, with Russia notifying Turkey, Ukraine and the UN of its objection to its extension.
Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier said that the terms of the deal regarding Russia were not implemented despite the UN's efforts because Western countries were not going to fulfill their promises.
Putin repeatedly pointed out that the West exported most of the Ukrainian grain to its own states, while the main goal of the deal - to supply grain to needy countries, including African countries - was never realized.