Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is stressing the need for grain exports to countries that are vulnerable to famine, while blaming Russia for a global food crisis.

Zelenskyy made the point at an international summit on food security, which he hosted in Kyiv on Saturday.

Representatives from some 30 countries and international organizations attended the meeting online while the leaders of Belgium, Poland and others took part in person.

At the summit, Zelenskyy said Russian troops blocked the export of food from Ukraine, putting the world on the brink of starvation. He blamed Russia for "provoking a food crisis."

Zelenskyy said there are plans for at least 60 ships to leave Ukrainian ports with exports by the end of next spring. He included Ethiopia and Sudan as planned destinations.

He said his country's goal is to save at least 5 million people from hunger.

He stressed that Ukraine will cooperate with the international community to export agricultural produce to Africa and other areas facing the threat of famine.

The food security summit was held on the annual memorial day for Holodomor, which marked 90 years since the former Soviet Union is said to have caused a serious famine in Ukraine.