Ukraine rules out direct deal with Russia on grain exports

Ukraine’s presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak has ruled out any direct deals with Russia on resuming grain exports from the Black Sea.

Speaking before Friday’s signing, presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak said Ukraine will sign an agreement only with Turkey and the UN, reports BBC.

"Ukraine does not sign any documents with Russia. We will sign an agreement with Turkey and the UN," he said on Twitter, adding that Russia would be signing a separate ‘mirror’ agreement.

Meanwhile, Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has arrived in Istanbul to sign the grain deal papers.

The Ukrainian Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov will lead its delegation. The delegation from Ukraine also arrived in Istanbul, says Ukraine's infrastructure ministry.

Kyiv and Moscow are expected to sign deals later that would allow grain exports to resume from the Black Sea, having been largely blocked since the Russian invasion.

"The country's delegation led by Ukraine's Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov arrived in Istanbul for negotiations on the resolution of the grain issue," the ministry says on Telegram.

It adds that delegates also met UN chief Antonio Guterres.