Foreign ministers from Russia and Turkey have held talks over grain exports from Ukraine amid rising concerns over a global food crisis.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara on Wednesday.

The foreign ministers are believed to have discussed ceasefire negotiations and shipping routes through the Black Sea. The focus of the meeting was whether they would be able to get a foothold to resume grain exports from Ukraine.

Turkey is calling for setting up a shipping route through the Black Sea in cooperation with the United Nations. It is also proposing its involvement in building a surveillance system to ensure security.

Russia's prolonged invasion of Ukraine is halting Ukraine's grain exports through the Black Sea, raising concerns over global food security.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned on Monday that Russia's blockade of Black Sea ports has prevented the country from exporting between 22 million and 25 million tons of grain.

He went on to say that the blockade could prevent his country from exporting 75 million tons of grain by autumn.

But the Russian side claims that it is the Ukrainians who are blocking grain shipments. It also insists sanctions against Russia should be lifted to avert a global food crisis.