Turkey, UN, Ukraine and the guilty party move forward on blockade talks

Negotiations over unblocking millions of tons of Ukraine’s grain exports were constructive, according to three of the parties –  Ukraine, the United Nations and Turkey.  Initial signals were positive, if not measured.  Ending the blockade will improve global food supplies and help to rescue Ukraine’s afflicted farm sector.

The sides – who agreed on the “main technical principles,” including setting up a monitoring unit in Istanbul – are expected to meet again next week, according to Turkey’s Defense Minister Hulusi Akar.