RUSSIA agreed today to resume its participation in a deal brokered by Turkey and the UN to keep grain and other commodities moving out of Ukraine’s ports, Turkey’s president said.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had informed Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar that the deal for a humanitarian grain corridor would “continue in the same way as before” as of noon Wednesday.

Mr Erdogan said that the renewed deal would prioritise shipments to African nations, including Somalia, Djibouti and Sudan, in line with Russia’s concerns that most of the grain exported since the agreements was first reached in July was ending up in richer nations.