Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has told Ukrainian defense and infrastructure ministers that keeping the Black Sea grain export deal going is important and that, as a humanitarian initiative, it should be segregated from the conflict.  

Akar's comments were published in a ministry statement on Tuesday, a day after he told his Russian counterpart that Moscow should re-evaluate its decision to suspend its participation in the deal, which was brokered in July by the UN and Türkiye in order to keep agricultural commodities flowing to global markets.  

On October 29, Russia said it was suspending its participation in the grain deal after accusing Ukraine of using the humanitarian grain corridor to launch strikes against its Black Sea fleet and the naval base Sevastopol.

On Monday, both Russian Defense Ministry and President Vladimir Putin said Russia is suspending - but not ending - its participation in the deal.

(With input from Reuters)