Moscow, 15 July 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan says he and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin both agree on extending a deal that allows critical grain supplies to be exported from Ukrainian ports, while a final decision is still pending.

"We are on the same page with him [Putin] on the issue of extending the Black Sea grain corridor [deal]," Erdoğan told reporters in Istanbul on Friday, days before the deal is due to expire.

It was immediately unclear when and how the deal, which runs out on July 17, could be extended. Erdoğan said he expects Putin to a pay a visit to Turkey in August.

The Turkish leader added he "hopes" the deal can be extended, particularly to allow impoverished African countries access food.

Erdoğan's remarks come a day after Putin said any extension of the deal remains dependant on whether Moscow's demands are fulfilled.

He said there was a possibility of suspending Russia's participation in the agreement until the promises made to Moscow under the deal were realized.

The grain deal, brokered by Turkey and the UN, has since last summer has allowed ships to carry Ukrainian food exports from Black Sea ports despite the ongoing war with Russia. Erdoğan earlier put the amount of exports at around 33 million tonnes.

Russia's blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports prompted fears of soaring prices or famine in some areas as Ukraine is one of the largest grain suppliers worldwide.

Moscow wants obstacles to exports of Russia's own food and fertilizer lifted. The Kremlin is seeking relief from Western sanctions on payments, logistics and shipping insurance in particular.

Photo: MIA archive