Kiev – Reuters
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko on Wednesday said Russia was ready to provide a “humanitarian route” for ships carrying food from Ukraine, in exchange for “pushing” some restrictions, Russia’s Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko was quoted as saying by Interfax. Said.
Ukraine’s Black Sea ports have been closed since Russia sent thousands of troops to Ukraine on February 24, and 20 million tons of grain are trapped in the country’s pits.
Russia and Ukraine account for almost a third of the world’s wheat supply, and the shortage of grain exports from Ukraine’s ports contributes to the growing global food crisis.
Ukraine is also a major exporter of corn and sunflower oil.
Western powers are discussing the idea of creating “safe corridors” for grain exports from Ukraine’s ports, and such a corridor would require Russian approval.
“We have repeatedly stated that resolving the food crisis requires a comprehensive approach, including the lifting of sanctions on Russian exports and financial transactions,” Rudenko said. The Ukrainian side is required to clear landmines from all ports where ships dock. Russia is ready to provide the necessary humanitarian corridor, and it does every day.
The RIA news agency quoted Rudenko as saying that Russia was in contact with the United Nations in the matter.
Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of “mining” the Black Sea.
According to the Interfax news agency, Rudenko said that the shipment of grain by Western ships to Ukrainian ships “would worsen the situation in the Black Sea.”
Britain said on Tuesday it had no plans to send British warships to pick up food exports from the besieged Ukrainian port of Odessa.
Located on the Black Sea, Odessa is Ukraine ‘s main deep-sea port.
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that the Russian-occupied port city of Mariupol in the shallow waters of the Azov Sea was operating normally after Russian forces completed demining.
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