Ukraine's president welcomes Istanbul deal to allow safe passage of grain, food through Black Sea ports.

ISTANBUL (AA) - The president of Ukraine welcomed a deal signed Friday in Istanbul to allow the safe passage of grain and food through three Ukrainian Black Sea ports.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address to his country that he was grateful to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for their efforts to make the deal possible.

"About 20 million tonnes of last year's grain harvest will be exported," said Zelenskyy. “And also it will be possible to sell this year's harvest -- and it is already being harvested. These are the incomes of farmers, the entire agricultural sector and the state budget. These are jobs."

Ukraine has about $10 billion worth of grain, according to Zelenskyy.

While welcoming the landmark deal brokered by Türkiye and the UN, he said it is a chance to reduce the severity of the global food crisis.

“Everything in the territorial waters of Ukraine will be controlled by our state,” he said, noting that the deal "fully meets" the interests of Ukraine.

"Russia could engage in provocations, attempt to discredit the Ukrainian and international efforts. But we trust the United Nations. Now it's their responsibility and the responsibility of international partners to ensure compliance with the agreements,” he added.

Russia and Ukraine signed the deal to resume Ukraine’s Black Sea grain exports, with Türkiye and the UN as co-guarantors.

The deal came after a general agreement was reached between the parties on a UN-led plan during July 13 talks in Istanbul to form a coordination center to carry out joint inspections at the entrance and exit of harbors and to ensure the safety of the routes.