Talks between Ukraine and Russia on reopening food exports concluded with a preliminary deal on Wednesday.
The negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations revolved around reopening three Black Sea ports used for the export of goods, especially grain, Fox News reported.
"In a world darkened by global crisis, today at last we have a ray of hope," UN Secretary-General António Guterres said during a New York press conference. "Today is an important and substantive step, a step on the way to a comprehensive agreement."
The preliminary deal was reached after weeks of back and forth negotiations overseen by Turkey and the UN with the global food crisis looming in the background.
Ukraine is one of the world’s top grain and cooking oil exporters. It currently has millions of tons of grain stuck in limbo in storehouses, unable to be exported due to a Russian blockade of Black Sea ports.
The plan would see Russia agree to the reopening of three Ukrainian ports and to the safe passage of grain exports, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The ships would be escorted by the Ukrainian navy who would ensure the lanes were free of Russian mines.
The agreement was applauded by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an address Wednesday evening.
"If they succeed in removing the Russian threat to shipping in the Black Sea, it will reduce the severity of the global food crisis,” he said. "We will agree on the details with the UN Secretary-General in the coming days.”