Moscow - Britain has deployed military aircraft to safeguard grain shipments originating from Ukraine, given the uncertain fate of the UN-backed agreement for ensuring secure export routes for agricultural products following its suspension by Russia.

"We will employ our intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities to closely monitor Russian activities in the Black Sea. We will respond promptly if we detect any indications of potential attacks on civilian shipping or infrastructure," stated the UK government on Friday.

"As part of these surveillance efforts, RAF aircraft are conducting flights in the region to discourage any illegal actions by Russia against civilian vessels transporting grain," the statement emphasized.

The Russian Defense Ministry previously issued a warning that all vessels entering Ukrainian ports would be treated as possible carriers of military cargo.

Moscow halted the trade agreement in July, citing Western nations' failure to fulfill their commitments by not eliminating obstacles to the transportation of Russian agricultural products and fertilizers. While Western sanctions do not directly target such exports, Russian authorities contend that restrictions on their country's banking sector and logistics effectively hinder the delivery of Russian goods.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated after a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Monday that Moscow would promptly reinstate the agreement once its conditions are met. Erdogan disclosed that discussions with the UN were ongoing in the hopes of resurrecting the arrangement.

Reuters reported on Friday that Rosselkhozbank, Russia's primary agricultural lender, may soon gain access to the SWIFT international banking system. Last year, several major Russian banks were removed from SWIFT as part of sanctions imposed on Moscow in response to its military actions in Ukraine.