World
Ukraine, Russia seal landmark grain deal

ISTANBUL: Ukraine and Russia signed on Friday a landmark agreement aimed at relieving a global food crisis caused by blocked Black Sea grain deliveries, ending months of negotiations and sending wheat prices tumbling to levels last seen before Moscow's invasion of its pro-West neighbor.The first major deal between the warring parties since the invasion's launch on February 24 should help ease the 'acute hunger' that the United Nations says faces an additional 47 million people because of the war.

The hostility between Moscow and Kyiv spilled over into the signing ceremony — delayed briefly by disputes about the display of flags around the table and Ukraine's refusal to put its name on the same document as the Russians.

SEALED DEAL (Standing from left) Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov and Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar are about to exchange copies of the agreement on grain shipments that they signed as (sitting from left) United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan observe at Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul, Turkey on Friday, July 22, 2022. AFP PHOTO