ISTANBUL, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed over the phone the extension of the grain export deal with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

They two sides also discussed the bilateral relations and the regional issues topped with the latest grain development, Turkish presidential communication circle said in a statement Friday.

Erdogan expressed gratitude to Putin for Moscow’s positive stance concerning renewing the grain deal for an additional 120 days, it added.

However, Erdogan said that prolonging the Russian-Ukrainian war would increase risks, calling for reviving the diplomatic talks, it noted.

The Turkish leader said the meeting of chiefs of Russian and American intelligence agencies in Turkey played a pivotal role in de-escalation on the ground, it stressed.

Furthermore, Erdogan welcomed Putin’s proposal on setting up a global center for natural gas in Turkey.

As for the proposal, Erdogan said that the concerned teams would conduct legal, technical and commercial studies to reach the common goals as soon as possible.

Source: Kuwait News Agency