The export of grain from Ukrainian ports to the world is critical for humanity, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday, Anadolu news agency reported.

"Even the start of sending Ukrainian grain to the world through our country is a critical event for humanity," Erdogan said after a cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara.

According to Erdogan, "everyone can testify that Turkey has made every effort to ensure peace between Russia and Ukraine."

"Our goal is a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in our country, hopefully in the not-too-distant future, to resolve the crisis," he added.