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Türkiye says Russia, Ukraine to sign UN grain export deal Friday
Updated 10:44, 22-Jul-2022
CGTN
Harvesting grain in the field in Odessa, Ukraine, July 4, 2022. /CFP

Harvesting grain in the field in Odessa, Ukraine, July 4, 2022. /CFP

Russia, Ukraine and Türkiye will gather on Friday to sign a deal proposed by the United Nations (UN) to free up grain exports from Ukraine's Black Sea ports, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office said on Thursday.

"The signing ceremony of the grain shipment agreement, in which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will be present, will be held (Friday) with the participation of Ukraine and Russia," the Turkish leader's office said.

The signing ceremony will be held at Dolmabahce Presidential Office in Istanbul at 16:30 local time on Friday (13:30 GMT).

"We will continue our efforts to resolve the conflict," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said.

The agreement comes at a time when there are growing concerns about a global food shortage as a result of the protracted crisis in Ukraine, which is partially blamed for the food price hikes across the world.

Last week, the four parties held their first round of negotiations in Istanbul with the aim of shipping Ukraine's grain to the world market to ease the supply shortage.

Türkiye has long served as a mediator in the effort to establish a mechanism that will prevent a food crisis by enabling Ukraine to export its grain to the global market via sea routes.

Istanbul will become an operational hub where the entire shipping process will be carried out, Turkish officials have said.

Türkiye controls maritime traffic entering and exiting the Black Sea through the Bosphorus Strait.

(With input from agencies)

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