UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed the Ukraine grain deal as a "beacon on the Black Sea" at the signing ceremony attended by representatives from Türkiye, Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul on Friday.

"There is a beacon on the Black Sea. A beacon of hope – a beacon of possibility – a beacon of relief – in a world that needs it more than ever," said the UN chief. 

Ukraine and Russia on Friday signed separate "mirror" deals on grain export with Türkiye and the UN to free up grain exports from Ukraine's besieged Black Sea ports. 

The agreement, in two copies, was signed by Türkiye's Defense Minister Hulusi Akar with Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov, and with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, respectively.

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who also attended the ceremony, said this Black Sea Grain Initiative "will contribute to prevent the danger of hunger that millions face all over the world."