Russian FM Lavrov in Turkey for talks on Ukraine grain exports

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Ankara on Wednesday to hold talks with Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on a plan that would allow Ukraine to export its grain through Black Sea to global markets amid an escalating food crisis.

Ukraine is one of world's largest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil, but war and a Russian blocke of its ports have halted much of that flow, endangering world food supplies to many developing countries.

Many of those ports are w also heavily mined.

An estimated 22 million tons of grains are sitting in silos in Ukraine.

Turkey is involved in efforts for establishment of a U.N.-led mechanism that would create a secure corridor for shipment of Ukrainian grain and for Russia to export food and fertilizer.

Turkey would facilitate and protect transport of grain in Black Sea, Turkish officials have said.

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said Tuesday that technical details were still being worked out.