Istanbul, 31 July 2022 (dpa/MIA) - Turkey expects grain exports from Ukraine to begin on Monday, a spokesperson for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday, amid hopes that a hard-won deal can help stave off a looming food crisis. It is highly likely that a ship carrying grain leaving Ukraine on Monday morning was very high, with only one or two details left to clear up, the spokesperson told told broadcaster Channel 7. Ukraine and Russia have signed a deal along with the UN and Turkey in order to export the grain from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports. Both Ukraine and Russia were key suppliers of foodstuffs around the world before Russia launched its invasion in February. In the aftermath, many countries began boycotting Russian goods, while Ukrainian goods became inaccessible because of Russian control of the Black Sea. Russia has been accused of blocking the exports and weaponizing hunger amid a looming food crisis. Moscow denies it is responsible for soaring food prices, instead blaming Western sanctions on Russia. Meanwhile more than 20 million tons of grain from last year's harvest is still awaiting export, according data from Ukraine, known as the breadbasket of Europe. There has been gradual progress on implementing the agreement so far, with a control centre for the grain exports opened in Istanbul last week. The centre will be staffed by representatives from Ukraine, Russia, the UN, and Turkey. Ships are to be subject to checks to ensure they are not carrying weapons as they pass through the Bosphorus strait.