<span style="color: #222222;">Russia and Ukraine met United Nations and Turkish officials today in a bid to break a months-long impasse over grain exports that has seen food prices soar and millions face hunger.<br />''<br />''The high-stakes meeting in Istanbul came with Russia's military operation of Ukraine showing no signs of abating and the sides locked in a furious long-range shooting battle that is destroying towns and leaving people with nothing.<br />''<br />''Ukraine is a vital exporter of wheat and grains such as barley and maize. It has also supplied nearly half of all the sunflower oil traded on global markets.<br />''<br />''The two sides say they have made progress but are sticking to firm demands that could collapse the talks.<br />''<br />''Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Kyiv was two steps from an agreement with Russia.</span><br />