Russia resumes Ukraine grain export deal

Russia has reversed its decision of suspension of Ukraine deal arising threat of increasing hunger globally. Moscow said it would resume its participation in a deal freeing up grain exports from Ukraine.

Russia announced the reversal on Wednesday after Turkey and the United Nations helped keep Ukrainian grain flowing for several days without a Russian role in inspections.

The defence ministry justified the resumption by saying it had received guarantees from Ukraine that it would not use the Black Sea grain corridor for military operations against Russia.

"The Russian Federation considers that the guarantees received at the moment appear sufficient_ and resumes the implementation of the agreement_" the ministry said in a statement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said it was important to stand up to "crazy Russian aggression that destabilises international trade".

"After eight months of Russia's so-called special operation_ the Kremlin is demanding security guarantees from Ukraine_" Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address.

"This is truly a remarkable statement. It shows just what a failure the Russian aggression has been and just how strong we all are when we maintain our unity."

The grain deal_ originally reached three months ago_ had helped alleviate a global food crisis by lifting a de facto Russian blockade on Ukraine_ one of the world's biggest grain suppliers. The prospect of it collapsing this week revived fears of a worsening food crisis and rising prices.

The prices of wheat_ soybeans_ corn and rapeseed fell sharply on global markets after Russia's announcement.