Grain ship navigates the Bosphorus Strait in Turkey. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Erdogan said he believes President Vladimir Putin wants to continue the deal to allow the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, and said he will meet with Putin on Wednesday after returning from his trip to the Gulf countries to discuss measures to open the way for Russian fertilizer and grain transport. The two leaders will also meet in person in Turkey next month.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday said the grain deal was terminated because the part of the deal concerning Russia was not implemented. He said that as soon as the Russian part is implemented, Moscow will return to the deal.

On Monday, UN Security Council members expressed their strong opposition to Russia's decision to suspend the deal brokered by the UN, and expressed deep concern about the likely increase in food prices in less affluent countries.

After Russia halted its participation in the deal, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the US will continue to work with other countries to ensure movement of grain out of Ukraine.

EU High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and EU Council President Charles Michel on Monday voiced their criticism of Russia's decision not to renew the initiative.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that Kyiv is prepared to continue grain exports, adding that he gave the order to Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to send official letters to the UN and Turkey to see whether they are ready to push the initiative.

The grain deal, brokered by the UN and Turkey last June, aimed to alleviate a global food crisis by allowing Ukrainian grain blocked by the Russia-Ukraine conflict to be exported safely.