UN sees progress in talks to free up Ukraine grain exports

By AYSE WIETING, SUZAN FRASER and EDITH M. LEDERER
Associated Press

ISTANBUL (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says Russian and Ukrainian officials meeting in Istanbul have taken a “critical step forward” to ensure the export of grain from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports to help ease the global food crisis. Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar says agreements will be signed at a meeting of the parties next week. Military officials from Russia, Ukraine and Turkey and U.N. envoys met Wednesday  in Istanbul for talks on a plan to export Ukrainian grain to world markets through the Black Sea. Ukraine is one of the world’s largest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil.