European Union foreign ministers are scheduled to discuss ways to free millions of tons of grain stuck in Ukraine due to a blockade of its Black Sea ports by Russian forces.
The foreign ministers are due to meet on June 20 in Luxembourg to discuss the matter, which has aroused concerns about supply shortfalls, especially in Africa and the Middle East.
The EU supports efforts by the United Nations to broker a deal to resume exports from Ukraine, one of the world's top wheat suppliers.
Its grain shipments have stalled, leaving more than 20 million tons of grain trapped in silos since Russia invaded the country and blockaded its ports.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed Western accusations that Moscow is responsible for a sharp rise in global grain prices due to its naval blockade.
He claimed last week that Russia was ready to guarantee the transit of ships exporting Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea and that Ukraine had alternative land routes, something Western experts say is not feasible.
Moscow has previously demanded that economic sanctions on it be lifted in exchange for allowing grain exports.
International grain prices have soared amid the standoff, and key importers in the Middle East and Africa are facing supply shortfalls.
Turkey has said it would host a meeting with the United Nations, Russia, and Ukraine to organize safe corridors for grain exports, but there has been no comment from Moscow
Ankara says it is ready to take up a role within an "observation mechanism" based in Istanbul if there is a deal.
Romanian Port Overwhelmed As Grain Ships Reroute Around War Zone
Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of stealing grain stocks from Ukraine and shipping them back to Russia and other countries.
