Russia and Ukraine reach consensus on grain export, UN hails development

Russian and Ukrainian delegations met Wednesday with UN and Turkish officials in a bid to break a months-long blockage of grain deliveries across the Black Sea, a Turkish official told AFP.

The meeting between the three countries' defence delegations and UN diplomats  marked the first time Russian and Ukrainian officials have held face-to-face talks since March 29.

However, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says that an “important and substantive step” was made towards a comprehensive deal to resume exports of Ukraine grain after talks between Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and United Nations’ officials.

Turkey’s Defence Minister Hulusi Akar says warring parties had agreed on “joint controls” for checking grains at harbours and on ways to “ensure the safety of the transfer routes” across the Black Sea.

The United Nations Refugee Agencies says that more than nine million people have crossed the border from Ukraine since Russia invaded the country in February.

Donetsk Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko reports a significant buildup of Russian troops, particularly in the Bakhmut and Siversk areas, and around Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, as the region braces for a powerful offensive.

Russian troops, along forces from the Russian-backed Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR), have entered the city limits of Siversk city in the east of Ukraine, a LPR’s official told TASS news agency.