Russia and Ukraine should be close to reaching a deal to finish the blockade of grain exports through the Black Sea, Financial Times reported on Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the UN-led negotiations. Despite the advances, the parties disagree on how to ensure the security of ports and ships along the export route, said the sources. However, Moscow and Kiev agreed to supervise vessels en route to and from ports, including Odessa, at two monitoring sites – one in Istanbul and one in the Black Sea – where ships will be checked. In that sense, yesterday, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said that a deal on grain export from Ukraine had been reached in principle. NN; Do not be so sure any bread will be backed from Ukraine wheat. Many many obstructions stand in the way… The biggest being the fact the grain export ports have been mined by the Ukrainians and they did it in such a haphazard manner no one knows where the ship mines are located…… Under the best of circumstances it will take months to open the ports. AND as you remove the mines the door is wide open for a Russian invasion be sea.