ANKARA, December 17. /TASS/. Turkey continues taking steps to resume the grain deal, Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler told reporters.

"We hope that this war (conflict in Ukraine - TASS) that affects the whole world, will end as soon as possible. We keep implementing the initiatives on our part to resume the Black Sea grain agreement that was concluded with our country’s coordination and contributed much to coping with the food crisis due to its efficiency," the minister was quoted as saying by the CNN Turk TV channel.

Ankara "abides by the Montreux Convention on straits, which balances the Black Sea, in a responsible and unbiased way," Guler added.