UNITED NATIONS

UN chief Antonio Guterres characterized on Thursday as a “milestone” the fact that Ukraine has shipped 10 million tons of grain and other foodstuffs through a deal brokered by Türkiye and the UN in three months

''Despite all the obstacles we have seen, the beacon of hope in the Black Sea is still shining. The initiative is working,'' he said. ''It is our collective responsibility to keep it working.''

Guterres urged Russia and Ukraine to fully implement and renew the grain deal which expires Nov. 19.

He also encouraged the removal of the remaining obstacles to the exports of Russian food and fertilizer.

Türkiye, the UN, Russia and Ukraine signed the agreement to resume grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports, which were paused after Moscow's war on Ukraine in February.