Russia, Ukraine expected to sign grain deal
Ukraine and Russia will sign a UN deal on Friday to unblock exports of Ukraine grain, according to Turkey’s presidency.
“The signing ceremony of the grain shipment agreement, in which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres will be present, will be held [Friday] with the participation of Ukraine and Russia,” Turkish officials said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was traveling to Turkey on Thursday in a bid to get Russia and Ukraine agree on an elusive agreement to allow grain exports out of Ukraine’s Black Sea.
Over 20 million tons of Ukrainian grain have been blocked by Russian forces, as well as land mines that Ukraine has laid to avert a feared assault.
The blockade has triggered a global crisis, sending food prices soaring and pushing millions of people in low-income countries toward starvation.
A first round of talks last week had no breakthroughs, although Guterres said he was hoping the warring sides could reach a final agreement this week.
DW
