President Erdogan Calls Turkey Will Continue The Gandum Export Agreement Through The Black Sea Even Though Russia Is Governor

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (Source: Presidency of The Republic of Turkey)

JAKARTA - Turkey will continue its efforts for the Black Sea wheat export deal despite Russian doubts, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday, after Moscow suspended its participation in the initiative on weekends.

"Even if Russia behaves hesitantly for not receiving the same benefits, we will continue our efforts firmly to serve humanity," President Erdogan said in a speech.

Moscow blamed Kyiv for the attack on its Black Sea Fleet, then withdrew from the deal to allow the delivery of Ukraine's wheat for an "infinite time period" on Saturday.

Russia and Ukraine are among the world's largest food exporters, with a Russian blockade on the delivery of Ukrainian grains leading to a global food crisis earlier this year.

"Our efforts to deliver this wheat to countries facing the threat of hunger have been proven. With the joint mechanism we built in Istanbul, we are contributing to the global food crisis," President Erdogan said, adding the deal had provided 9.3 million tons of food to the world market.

Separately, a UN spokesman said the first phase of the 40 planned ship inspections on Monday had been completed in Istanbul waters, with a team of only UN and Turkish members, rather than the previous four-member teams with Russia and Ukraine before Moscow's suspension.