A deal to resume wheat exports from Ukraine is expected to be reached on Friday
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says Kiev has agreed to remove “only a few” of the mines, while having the Navy and Coast Guard steer grain ships to international waters, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing three government sources.
Wheat shipments from Ukraine, a major exporter, were disrupted after Russia launched its military operation in the neighboring country in late February. Both sides blame each other for hampering the exports.
According to the report, foreign crews would take the ship to Istanbul, Turkey, where they would continue on to other destinations. A control center would be set up in Istanbul to oversee operations, while Turkish officials would check the ships to assure Moscow that they aren’t used to deliver weapons to Ukraine.
Two senior European officials were quoted as saying they were optimistic that a deal would be struck at the UN-sponsored talks in Istanbul on Friday.
READ MORE: Russia taking ‘all measures’ to deliver food to Africa
Western officials have accused Russia of deliberately blocking grain exports from Ukraine by blockading Black Sea ports. Moscow says the deliveries are not possible due to Ukrainian naval mines. The Russian Navy has offered to safely escort all grain ships.
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