On Friday, it is expected that Russia and Ukraine will sign an agreement to speed up grain exports out of the ports in the south of the war-torn country.
Initially, the agreement is to be signed at 3.30 p.m., but ahead of the event there are many ambiguous messages.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan nevertheless sends out positive signals.
Promises good news
The Turkish president has long contributed to the mediation between the two countries, and Erdogan has repeatedly emphasized that the agreement will be signed.
– In a short time, signatures will be signed with the participation of Russia, Ukraine and the UN Secretary-General. It will lead to a solution to the problems in the grain debate, and we will give the world good news then, Erdogan said.
The statement from the president comes just minutes after Ukraine announced that it was not going to sign an agreement with Russia.
– Ukraine does not sign any documents with Russia. We will sign an agreement with Turkey and the UN, writes Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoljak on Twitter.
Ukraine warns Russia
Podoljak is clear that Ukraine and Russia will each sign their own agreements.
He adds that Russia will sign a separate agreement that mirrors the one Ukraine is signing.
The adviser emphasizes that Ukraine will respond militarily to any provocation from Russia, and he says that Russian ships and representatives will not be allowed into Ukrainian ports used for grain exports.
A Ukrainian delegation arrived in Istanbul, Turkey on Friday for talks on opening grain exports from the country through the Black Sea.
The purpose of the agreement
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary-General António Guterres will be present when the agreement is signed, according to Erdogan’s staff.
The aim of the agreement is to secure the export of Ukrainian grain as well as the export of Russian grain and fertilizer so that it can mitigate a global food crisis in the wake of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The lack of grain exports out of war-torn Ukraine has had major consequences, leading to food shortages or price jumps in parts of the world. Experts have long feared that the poor countries will be hardest hit.
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