KYIV, Aug 9 – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan intends to resume the deal under the Black Sea Grain Initiative in an expanded format and called on Western countries to help turn this initiative into the basis of peace between Russia and Ukraine, Bloomberg reports.

"We had another chance to learn first hand Russia's demands and expectations during a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin," Erdogan said in Ankara late Tuesday, adding that the two leaders shared a "sensitivity" on the need for grain to reach Africa.