Russia says it's withdrawing from the southern city of Kherson, but Ukraine says it's not seeing a pullout. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is asking Ukraine to show a willingness to negotiate.
Born in Ukraine, Kirill Stremousov had switched to Russia's side and mimicked its claims about Nazi rule, becoming spokesman and deputy governor of the Moscow-installed administration in Kherson.
Russia, which had suspended participation over the weekend, says the grain deal is back on after assurances that shipping corridors would not be used for military purposes.
Sixty percent of Ukrainians who fled their homes for other parts of the country have lost their jobs, as Russia's invasion has upended industries and destroyed businesses.
Countries are scrambling to salvage a deal allowing Ukraine to export grain, after Russia said it pulled out indefinitely, a decision that risks worsening global hunger.
Ukrainian forces have made significant gains in recent weeks, recapturing wide swaths of territory in the east and northeast. Now they're bracing for what may be one of their toughest battles yet.