Turkey says deal reached in Ukraine grain talks

ANKARA - Talks between Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and UN officials on resuming Black Sea exports of Ukraine grain resulted in an agreement to form a coordination center in order to ensure the safety of routes, the Turkish defence minister said on Wednesday.

In a statement, Turkey's Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said an agreement would be signed next week when all parties meet again, adding the parties had agreed on joint controls for checking grains at harbours.

Russian, Ukrainian and Turkish military delegations met with UN officials in Istanbul on Wednesday for talks on resuming exports of Ukrainian grain from the major Black Sea port of Odessa as a global food crisis worsens.