The West is making every effort to keep the food area out of the sanctions packages it has imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, considering this the only way to prevent even greater food shortages - which is already affecting, according to the UN, some 270 million people worldwide, more than double what it was at the end of 2021.

Last Friday's signing of an agreement to unblock the sale of Ukrainian grain on international markets was at the center of these concerns.

"The signing ceremony for the grain export agreement, which will be attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, will be held this Friday with the participation of Ukraine and Russia," confirmed the Turkish presidential office quoted by the Economic newspaper.

Ukraine and Russia on Friday signed separate agreements with Turkey and the UN to unblock the export of the tons of grain currently blocked at Black Sea ports.

In a ceremony held at the Dolmabahçe Palace in the Turkish city of Istanbul, with the partnership of Turkey and the UN, two documents were signed - as Ukraine refused to sign the same paper as Russia - with the agreement to run for four months but be renewable.

Specifically, the agreement will allow cargo ships to export from three Ukrainian ports - Odessa, Pivdennyi and Chornomorsk - some 22 million tons of wheat, corn and other cereals stored in silos.

The Istanbul agreement also includes a document concerning the export of Russian agricultural products and fertilizers.