Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed expanding the scope of the grain deal and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict with the presidents of Türkiye and the U.S. over the phone on Sunday.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Zelenskyy that Türkiye continued to work towards meeting the humanitarian needs of the Ukrainian people in the "difficult winter months."

"The grain corridor could be expanded to include different food products and other commodities," said Erdogan.

He also expressed hope that relevant parties were "approaching a solution" to the issue of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine.

Türkiye, which acted as a mediator in peace talks in the early months of the ongoing conflict, worked alongside the United Nations to strike a grain deal, which opened up Ukrainian ports for exports in July.

Zelenskyy thanks Biden

Zelenskyy thanked U.S. President Joe Biden for "unprecedented defense and financial" help the U.S. has provided for Ukraine and discussed effective anti-aircraft defense systems to protect the Ukrainian population.

"This not only helps succeed on the battlefield, but also maintains the stability of the Ukrainian economy," The Hill reported, citing Zelenskyy's Telegram account. 

Biden affirmed the U.S. is prioritizing support for air defense and highlighted the latest $275 million in weapons, ammunition and other equipment the Pentagon has announced for Ukraine, The Hill reported, citing a readout of the call from the White House.

"We are constantly working with partners," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address, adding that he expects some "important results" next week from a series of international events that will tackle the situation in Ukraine.

On the ground in Ukraine, the entire eastern front line has been continuously shelled with heavy fighting taking place. There are also missile strikes targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure, at times cutting off electricity for millions of civilians in winter.

(With input from agencies)