UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced that after talks between Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and UN officials on Wednesday, an “important and principled step” had been taken towards a comprehensive agreement to resume Ukrainian grain exports from the Black Sea.
He also added that despite the fact that Ukraine and Russia have extended a helping hand, “we still have a long way to go to peace.”
“Hopefully next week we can come to a final agreement,” Guterres told reporters in New York. “But, as I said, we still need goodwill and commitment from all sides.”
For his part, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar confirmed that an agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain would be signed next week.
In statements, he added that it had been decided to ensure the safety of grain shipping routes and the safety of their roads.