Erdoğan vows to revive grain deal amid UN talks with Zelensky

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has pledged to work towards reviving a key grain deal amid the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

His remarks came during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at New York's Turkish House, a skyscraper located across from the U.N. building, on the sidelines of a General Assembly session on Sept. 25.

The two leaders discussed pressing issues including the war in Ukraine and efforts for peace.

A resolution to the conflict could only be achieved through dialogue while safeguarding Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, Erdoğan told Zelensky.

"Türkiye is ready to take all kinds of facilitating steps, including mediation, to achieve peace," he said.

A focal point of the discussion was the Black Sea grain deal. It was established in July 2022 to ensure the safe export of Ukrainian agricultural products across the mine-laden Black Sea.

Moscow abandoned the deal a year later, citing unfair terms. Since the deal's collapse, Ukraine has been using alternative shipping routes along the coastline to avoid contested waters.

Both leaders expressed a commitment to working together on matters of mutual interest and voiced hope for future cooperation in achieving a resolution to the conflict.

Zelensky welcomed Türkiye's efforts in facilitating peace talks.

In addition, the leaders also covered broader regional and global issues.

Erdoğan also met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the Turkish house. He noted "significant progress" in efforts to normalize ties between Ankara and Yerevan, as the neighbors have been working on this since appointing special representatives in 2021.

Erdoğan's engagement extended to Greek Prime...