Ukraine hopes for grain exports breakthrough as Istanbul talks resume

We are two steps away from a deal with Russia

Ukraine said on Wednesday that a deal to resume grain exports blocked by Russia appeared very close as four-way talks prepared to resume, raising hopes of an end to a standoff that has exposed millions to the risk of starvation, Qazet.az reports.

More than 20 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain are stuck in silos at the Black Sea port of Odesa and dozens of ships have been stranded due to Russia's blockade, part of what Moscow calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine but which Kyiv and the West say is an unjustified war of aggression.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told Spanish newspaper El Pais ahead of the talks in Istanbul between Ukrainian, Russian, Turkish and U.N. officials that Kyiv believed it was now very close to striking a deal for exports to resume.

"We are two steps away from a deal with Russia. We are in the final phase and now everything depends on Russia," it quoted him as saying. Other participants in the negotiations were more cautious, saying much remained to be agreed.