Russia agrees to resume participation in UN-brokered grain deal with Ukraine

Russia's defence minister has told his Turkish counterpart that Moscow has agreed to return to a Turkish and UN brokered deal that allowed shipment of millions of tons Ukrainian grain through Black Sea, Turkey's president says.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu called Turkey's Hulusi Akar and informed him that grain corridor agreement would continue in same way as before as of Wednesday.

Erdogan said Wednesday that deal would prioritise shipments to African nations, including Somalia, Djibouti and Sudan, in line with Russia's concerns that most of grain was ending up in richer nations.

Russia suspended its participation in grain deal over weekend, citing allegations of a Ukrainian drone attack against its Black Sea flee. Russian Defence Ministry said Monday that ship traffic from ports in sourn Ukraine was halted, calling movement unacceptable.

Ships loed with grain departed Ukraine on Tuesday despite Russia suspending its participation in a UN-brokered deal that ensures safe wartime passage of critical food supplies meant for parts of world struggling with hunger. But United Nations h said vessels would not move Wednesday, raising concerns about future shipments.

United Nations and Turkey brokered separate deals with Russia and Ukraine in July to ensure Africa, Middle East and parts of Asia would receive grain and or food from Black Sea region during Russia's war in Ukraine