Adviser to the President of Ukraine Mykhailo Podolyak stressed that “the grain agreement does not provide for Russian escort of tankers, and there are no Russian observers,” stressing that “we will not sign documents with Russia, and the two countries are signing agreements with the UN in parallel.”

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu arrived in Istanbul today to participate in the signing of an agreement on grain exports between Ukraine and Russia.

And earlier, the Turkish presidency announced that “the mechanism for the export of Ukrainian grain will be signed today, Friday, in an agreement that should put an end to disagreements and reservations between Moscow and Kyiv over grain production mechanisms. Ukraine has identified 3 ports in Odessa and Chornomorsk. .” and Yogne, from where grain exports will resume.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that “the city of Istanbul will witness the first step towards solving the food crisis affecting the whole world,” adding that “this will be done with the participation of UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the presence of delegations from Russia and Ukraine.”