ANKARA (Reuters) -Turkey expects progress on a plan to unlock grains exports from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports when Russia’s foreign minister visits next week and both Moscow and Kyiv want a solution despite their conditions, a senior Turkish official said.
Though hurdles remain – such as payment mechanisms for the agricultural products and mines floating in the Black Sea – the official said Moscow could take further positive steps after it said on Thursday it was open to the plan.
Since Russia invaded on Feb. 24, Ukrainian grain shipments from its Black Sea ports have stalled and more than 20 million tonnes of grain are stuck in silos.
The conflict has fueled a global food crisis with prices of grains and fertilizer soaring, prompting the United Nations to pitch the plan to re-open shipping routes from Odesa and other Ukrainian ports.