Ukraine signs grain export agreement with Turkey and UN

Kyiv signed its part of the agreement with Ankara and the United Nations to export grain from Ukrainian ports.

The document was signed by:

• Ukraine's Minister of Infrastructure Alexander Kubrakov,
• Turkey's Defence Minister Hulusi Akar
• UN Secretary General António Guterres.
• Representatives of Turkey, the UN and Russia are expected to sign a similar document.

Earlier, Mikhail Podolyak, adviser to the head of the office of the President of Ukraine, said that Moscow and Kyiv would not sign a grain agreement with each other. The Ukrainian side will sign documents with Ankara and the UN, while the Russian side will also conclude mirror agreements with them.

On July 21, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the signing of the agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain in Istanbul. The meeting of the delegations of Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the UN took place on July 13. The talks were held behind closed doors, no journalists were allowed.

Russian Defence Minister arrives in Istanbul

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu arrived in Istanbul to sign the grain export agreement, Habertürk TV channel reports.

The heads of the defense departments of the two countries will sign the document on behalf of Moscow and Ankara.

On July 21, it was reported that UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres arrived in Istanbul to participate in the signing of the agreement on the export of Ukrainian and Russian grain, as well Russian fertilizers.