ISTANBUL, July 22 – RIA Novosti. A source familiar with the negotiations in Istanbul told RIA Novosti that the preparation process for the signing of the document on the “grain issue” was difficult, and Russia showed a very constructive approach.

The Turkish presidential administration previously told RIA Novosti that the document on the grain issue will be signed on Friday at 16.30 in Istanbul, with Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary-General António Guterres attending the ceremony.

“There were difficulties, of course. And until the last moment. Negotiations in this sense helped to find the same consensus, points of contact” – said the interlocutor of the agency.

According to him, there was speculation about the negotiations.

The UN has repeatedly voiced the threat of a food crisis due to grain shortages, accused Western Russia of blocking the supply of Ukrainian grain to world markets, Moscow categorically denied such accusations. At the same time, the Kyiv authorities themselves created many obstacles to the export of grain for export: in addition to the grain arson that arose in the port of Mariupol, Ukrainian troops mined the Black Sea, which did not allow grain to be transported around the world. markets with ships. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia does not prevent grain exports from Ukraine, that ships carrying grain can leave without any problems if Kiev clears the ports of mines.