Russia and Ukraine reach breakthrough deal on grain exports

“The grain export agreement, which is vital for global food security, will be signed in Istanbul on July 22 under the auspices of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The Ukrainian and Russian delegations will participate in the signing,” Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Twitter.

Earlier, the first direct talks between Ukraine and Russia produced an initial draft to resolve the food export impasse. The sides are expected to meet again this week to sign a formal agreement.

This is the first major agreement between the two countries since Russia began its “special military operation” in Ukraine. The conflict in Ukraine has caused global food prices to skyrocket and people in some of the world’s poorest countries face the risk of starvation, according toAFP.

Ukraine exports most of its grain via the Black Sea. Photo:Rasset.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on July 19 that he expected any deal to address Russia's backlog of grain exports.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on July 21 that Putin’s concerns could be resolved. “When we resolve this issue, it will open the way not only for grain and sunflower oil exports from Ukraine but also for Russian products,” he said.

Revealing the deal, Ukrainian lawmaker Rustem Umerov said: "Exports will be carried out through three ports: Odessa, Pivdennyi and Chornomorsk. But in the future, we hope to be able to expand them."

The Russia-Ukraine conflict is taking place in one of Europe's once most fertile regions. Russia and Ukraine are also two of the world's largest grain producers.