TASS-Russia's Lavrov, UN Sec-Gen To Discuss Black Sea Grain Deal Today

Wires reporting that according to Russian state-run outlet TASS, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will hold talks today with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The talks come days after two cargo ships entered Ukrainian Black Sea ports with the intention of taking on grain for the Asian and African markets. These are the first vessels to do so since Russia suspended its participation in the UN-brokered deal in July, and come via 'humanitarian corridors' established by Ukraine.

• Five vessels that were already at port have since left via said corridors. The breakdown of the grain initiaitve has seen Moscow's missile and drone attacks on Ukraine's ports on the Black Sea and Danube River dole out significant structural damage.
• There is little optimism about the prospect of a resumption of the deal in the short-term. Talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier in the month seemingly made little progress. Erdogan talked up a return to the deal, co-brokered by Turkey, 'soon', but Putin warned that it would not be possible without the West 'meeting its obligations.'