After Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Erdogan had a phone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, in a frantic effort to get the two leaders to sit down, talk and end the war.
As stated in the press release of the Turkish President's Communication Office, Erdogan-Putin discussed the developments related to the Russian-Ukrainian war and the agreement on the delivery of grain.
Erdogan expressed his gratitude to Zelensky for his constructive attitude towards the extension of the Istanbul agreement on the export of wheat.
Erdogan also highlighted the positive experiences of the grain deal and prisoner exchange, noting that it would be in everyone's interest to expand such an approach to negotiations, especially on the issue of a ceasefire.
The Turkish president expressed his gratitude to Zelensky for his condolences regarding the recent terrorist attack in Istanbul.
The agreement on the Black Sea Grain Corridor was extended on Thursday for 120 days, starting on November 19, 2022.
On July 22, Turkey, the UN, Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement in Istanbul to restore Black Sea grain exports, which were suspended after the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war in February. A joint coordination center with officials from the three countries and the UN was established in Istanbul to oversee the deliveries.