The statement said the ships' movement was agreed by the Ukrainian, Turkish and U.N. delegations at the Istanbul-based centre and the Russian delegation had been informed.

It said the U.N. coordinator for the grain initiative, Amir Abdulla, continued discussions with all three member state parties in an effort to resume full participation at the centre that oversees safe passage of vessels.

(Reporting by Yesim Dikmen; Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Jonathan Spicer)