Russia agrees to resume Ukraine grain deal

Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Russia had agreed to resume the deal to allow the export of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea as of midday on Wednesday.

Erdogan said that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had spoken to his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar and told him that the grain corridor would "continue in the same way as before."

The Turkish president added that exports to African nations would be prioritized, saying that Russia had been concerned most of the exported grain was ending up in richer countries.

Russia suspended its role in a UN-brokered accord over the weekend that allowed the safe export of grains from Ukraine. It made the decision after an attack on its Black Sea fleet.

The UN said on Monday, however, that grain had continued to leave Ukrainian ports despite the Russian suspension of the deal.