UNITED NATIONS : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has lauded what he called "substantive progress" in ensuring the export of Ukrainian food products through the Black Sea.

"Today in Istanbul, we have seen a crucial step forward to ensuring the safe and secure export of Ukrainian food goods over the Black Sea," He told reporters on Wednesday at the UN Headquarters in New York.

"In a world clouded by international crises, today, at last, we have a ray of hope -- a ray of hope to ease human suffering and alleviate hunger throughout the world, a ray of hope to support developing countries and the most vulnerable people, a ray of hope to bring some much-needed stability to the global food system." The advancements made today will require more technical work to be realised. However, the trend is obvious. The ultimate goal of all sides is not just a deal between Russia and Ukraine but also a deal for the entire world, he said.

He expressed gratitude to the Turkish government for making outstanding efforts to hold the talks and for playing a crucial role moving ahead. He expressed gratitude to Russian and Ukrainian officials for their helpful interaction.

The UN promises to play a full role in assisting the follow-up, he said. "A significant step has been taken today toward a full accord. We must also do more to help those in need and developing nations that are suffering from a food, energy, and financial crises that is not their fault. We must do more to assist everyone who is living on the fringes of the world, including famine-stricken families and nations on the verge of bankruptcy." There was significant progress and wide consensus at the meetings in Istanbul, he said.

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