Ukraine and Russia have signed a deal to allow exports of grain to resume from Ukraine's ports. This should ease a world shortage of wheat that has left millions of people at risk of hunger. Russia's invasion of Ukraine resulted in a global rise in food prices. Millions of tons of grain are waiting for export at Ukrainian ports. The grain deal should ease the pressure on food prices. Russia's Defence Minister and Ukraine's Infrastructure Minister signed the deal at a ceremony in Istanbul. Turkey's President Erdogan helped to broker the agreement.

The deal took two months to negotiate. It will last for 120 days. Ukraine warned that any Russian provocation could put the deal in danger. This has already been tested after Russian forces attacked the Black Sea port of Odesa within 24 hours of the deal starting. Russia's Defence Minister said the deal might mean the export of products from Russia, especially agricultural products and fertiliser, from Russian ports. The US said more exports were needed, "to prevent the world's most vulnerable from sliding into deeper food insecurity and malnutrition."