UN welcomes Russia’s resumption of Istanbul grain deal

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA) – The UN on Wednesday welcomed Russia’s decision to resume the July 22 Istanbul grain deal, officially known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

“I welcome the return of the Russian Federation to the implementation of the #BlackSeaGrainInitiative to facilitate exports of food and fertilizer from #Ukraine. Grateful for the Turkish facilitation,” Amir Abdulla, the UN's coordinator for the deal, said on Twitter.

Abdulla added that he is looking forward to working again with all parties in the initiative.

Russia had suspended the deal for what it alleged was a Ukrainian attack on its Black Sea fleet at the port of Sevastopol. It resumed the implementation of the agreement earlier in the day after mediation from Ankara and the UN.

Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine signed the agreement to resume grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports, which were paused after Moscow's war on Ukraine in February.