Ukraine plays down hope of deal to end Russian grain blockade

A deal to end Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian seaports and grain exports remains distant because Moscow is using talks to push its war aims and ambition to dominate the Black Sea, Kyiv’s top negotiator said.

Turkey and the UN are trying to

an end to Russia’s naval blockade in the Black Sea, which has crippled Ukrainian commodity exports and triggered fears of global food shortages.

But Taras Kachka, Ukraine’s deputy…