Russia, Ukraine to sign deal on restarting grain exports, Turkey says.
KHARKIV, Ukraine/ISTANBUL, July 21 (Reuters) - Russia and Ukraine will sign a deal on Friday to reopen Ukraine's Black Sea ports, Turkey said, a potential breakthrough that could ease the threat of hunger facing millions around the world as a consequence of Russia's invasion.
Ukraine and Russia are both among the world's biggest exporters of food, and Ukraine's ports, including the major hub of Odesa, have been blockaded by Russia's Black Sea fleet.
The halt to grain shipments during the five-month war has caused prices to rise dramatically around the world, and reopening Ukraine's ports could potentially avert famine.
Although Russia's ports have not been shut, Moscow had complained that its shipments were hurt by Western sanctions. The United States and the European Union have both adjusted their sanctions recently to spell out more clearly exceptions for Russian food and fertiliser exports.
Turkey, a NATO member with good relations with both warring countries, controls the straits leading into the Black Sea and has acted as a mediator on the issue. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who would potentially sign any agreement, was headed there.
Ankara said the parties would put in writing an accord they had agreed in principle at talks last week in Istanbul.
Full details of the agreement were not immediately released. It was due to be signed on Friday at the Dolmabahce Palace offices at 1330 GMT, President Tayyip Erdogan's office said.
There was no immediate confirmation from Moscow.
The Kyiv government did not confirm a deal was set. The foreign ministry said late on Thursday that another U.N.-led round of talks to unblock Ukrainian grain exports would take place in Turkey on Friday.
"In summary, a document may be signed which will bind the sides to (ensure) safe functioning of export routes in the Black Sea," foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko said.
The U.S. State Department said it welcomed the announcement and would hold Russia to account for implementing the agreement.
MINED PORT WATERS
Before last week's talks, diplomats had said details of the plan included Ukrainian vessels guiding grain ships through mined port waters. Turkey would oversee the inspection of ships to allay Russian concerns they might bring weapons to Ukraine.
The United Nations and Turkey have been working for two months to broker what Guterres called a "package" deal - to resume Ukraine's Black Sea grain exports and facilitate Russian grain and fertilizer shipments.
Ukraine could potentially restart exports quickly, Ukraine's Deputy Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotskiy said on Thursday.
"The majority of the infrastructure of ports of wider Odesa - there are three of them - remains, so it is a question of several weeks in the event there are proper security guarantees," he told Ukrainian television.