Kiev - (AFP) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia on Friday of "deliberately" delaying the transit of ships carrying Ukrainian grain, which is a vital supply for many countries in Africa and Asia.

"More than 150 ships are still waiting to fulfill the obligations in the contracts to ship our agricultural products," Zelensky said in a video clip. "It is an artificial wait, the only reason for which Russia is deliberately delaying the transit of ships."

He explained that China, Egypt, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iraq, Lebanon and the West Maghreb countries are among the countries affected by this delay, which affects "about three million tons of food."

Under the auspices of the United Nations and Turkey, Russia and Ukraine agreed in July to resume Ukrainian grain exports that had been suspended since the start of the war.

However, Russia later criticized this agreement, stressing that the Western sanctions imposed on it prevented the shipment of its exports.