For days the United Nations has been in (so far unsuccessful) talks on cobbling together an agreement on plans to unblock Black Sea grain exports from Ukrainian ports, including controversial discussions with Russia, which has stood accused of 'weaponizing' global food supply with its military blockade of key ports.
Moscow has in turn charged that Ukraine said ports, making tanker traffic impossible, while also saying the West must ease sanctions if it hopes to get crucial grain exports flowing again.
UN officials have said President Vladimir Putin's offer to lift the blockade if sanctions are dropped is "complicating" the already "fragile" negotiations. Washington has been watching with skepticism: "The bottom line is that, apart from leveraging overland routes, we need to get the ports back up and running so we can boost food supplies for those most in need," a State Department spokesperson said in weekend comments.
Russia has reportedly reached an agreement with Turkey to erect a de-mined 'grain corridor' which would provide safe passage to Ukrainian grain cargo ships out of the Black Sea port of Odessa via joint military escorts
Turkish media source Daily Sabah is reporting the following on Monday:
Russian government plans to allow ships carrying grain supplies to leave the port of Odessa in Ukraine, according to a report, easing a blockade that has triggered fears of widespread shortages and hunger.
The Russian leadership has agreed with Kyiv and Ankara on a scheme to release grain shipments from Odessa, which has been subject to a blockade, the pro-government Izvestia reported, citing government circles.
"In the territorial waters of the neighboring country, Turkish military forces will take over the demining and they will also escort the ships as far as neutral waters," Monday's report said.
Russian warships would then escort the vessels carrying grain to the Bosporus.
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