Market News & Headlines >> UN Reports Constructive Talks on Russian Exports

A senior U.N. official had "constructive discussions" in Moscow with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov on facilitating Russian grain and fertilizer exports to global markets, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday.

The U.N. official, Rebecca Grynspan, is now in Washington D.C. for talks on the same issue "with the key aim of addressing growing global food insecurity," Dujarric said, according to Reuters News Service.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the U.S. is prepared to give "comfort letters" to shipping and insurance companies to help facilitate exports of Russian grain and fertilizer, Reuters reported.

She noted that Russian grain and fertilizer were not directly sanctioned by the U.S. but that "companies are a little nervous and we're prepared to give them comfort letters if that will help to encourage them."