Russian foreign minister talks about Ukrainian grain exports: Ukraine needs to clear port mines by itself
2022-06-09 12:39:40Source: Xinhua News Agency
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, June 9 (Xinhua) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Turkey on the 8th that Russia is ready to work with Turkey to ensure the safety of Ukrainian ships to go to sea, and Ukraine needs to clear the mines of the Black Sea ports on its own to resume grain exports.
Lavrov will visit Turkey on the 7th. He met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, on the 8th. Topics discussed by the two included possible solutions to Ukraine’s food export problems and the prospect of resuming Russia-Ukrainian dialogue.
At a joint press conference after the meeting, Lavrov said that Russia had previously made necessary commitments to Ukraine’s grain exports. “We declare every day that we are ready to make sure that ships leave Ukrainian ports and go to the (Bosphorus) Strait, and we will cooperate with the Turkish side on this.”
“The only thing that needs to be done to solve the (grain) problem is for the Ukrainian side to take the ship out of their port by themselves, either to clear mines or to draw a safe corridor, and nothing else,” he said.
Russia and Ukraine are both major exporters of agricultural products. The two countries together export 30% of the world‘s wheat, 20% of corn, and 76% of sunflower oil. The escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has raised concerns about the lack of food supplies in the global market.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said on the 6th that about 20 million to 25 million tons of grain cannot be shipped out of Ukraine, and by this autumn, this figure may reach 70 million to 75 million tons.
On July 17, 2008, a large combine harvester harvests wheat in Vinnitsa Oblast, southwestern Ukraine.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Song Zongli
Ukraine accused Russia of blocking Ukrainian ports and preventing Ukrainian grain exports. Russia denies interfering with Ukrainian exports, accusing Ukraine of laying a large number of mines in the Black Sea, jeopardizing the safety of navigation.
Turkey, Ukraine and Russia are all countries on the Black Sea coast. After the escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the Turkish side mediated from it.
Turkey has previously said it is willing to escort grain fleets from Ukrainian ports, despite the presence of mines around those ports, some of which have drifted off the Turkish coast.
Cavusoglu said at a press conference that the Turkish side believes that Russia’s request to export agricultural products is reasonable and legal. Since the escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Russia has been subject to a number of sanctions by Western countries, which restricts the export of Russian agricultural products.
Cavusoglu said: “If we need to open international markets for Ukrainian grains (exports), then it is also a legitimate request to lift Russia’s export barriers … We believe that Russia’s request to ship its grains and sunflower oil to the world market is legitimate and reasonable. .”
Regarding the prospect of Russia-Ukraine dialogue, Cavusoglu said that Turkey is “much more optimistic” than before in persuading Russia and Ukraine to return to the negotiating table aimed at ending the conflict. (Guo Qian)