Ukraine, Russia sign deal to reopen grain export ports as war rages on

The blockade by Russia's Black Sea fleet has worsened global supply chain disruptions

Russia and Ukraine will sign a deal on Friday to reopen Ukrainian Black Sea ports for grain exports, Turkey and the United Nations said, raising hopes that an international food crisis aggravated by the Russian invasion can be eased.

Russia and Ukraine, both among the world’s biggest exporters of food, sent their defence and infrastructure ministers respectively to Istanbul to take part in a 1330 GMT signing ceremony, the two sides said. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, expected to co-sign the accord, and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan were to attend.

But fighting continued unabated in Ukraine’s east and, underlining deep-seated enmity and mistrust,