Russia will not use the demining of Ukrainian ports for military purposes and agrees "in one way or another" to formalize appropriate guarantees, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his on Wednesday at a press conference following talks with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu.
According to the minister, Moscow is ready to discuss with Kiev the export of Ukrainian grain through the UN mediation, but the solution of this issue depends only on Ukraine. At the same time, a meeting between Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, who reiterated his readiness the day before, is possible only after the resumption of the negotiation process as a whole, Lavrov stressed.
TASS compiled the main statements made after the talks in Turkey.
On the export of Ukrainian grain
Ankara considers it realistic to create a mechanism for the safe export of grain from Ukrainian ports with the participation of Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations, Cavusoglu said.
According to Lavrov, Moscow is ready in coordination with Ankara to ensure the safety of ships leaving Ukrainian ports, the only problem is the position of Kiev, which until recently refused to clear its own territorial waters: "But if now, as our Turkish friends tell us, the Ukrainian side is ready to ensure the passage <...>, let us hope then that the problem will be solved. <...> If Kiev's authorities are ripe, we will be only glad to cooperate".
Lavrov said Russia is ready to meet with the representatives of Kiev mediated by the UNO, however, the participation of the latter "will not add anything besides some symbolism <...>", to solve the problem it is enough for Ukrainians "to let ships out of their ports".
At that, Lavrov stressed that the situation with Ukrainian grain, which the West and Kiev themselves are trying to move "into the category of global disaster," has nothing to do with the global food crisis: "The share of this grain in question is less than 1% of the global production of wheat and other cereals".
On security for Ukrainian ports
"We guarantee <...> that when and if Ukraine goes to demining and allows the departure of ships from its ports, we will not take advantage of this situation in the interests of the special military operation being conducted. These are guarantees of the Russian president, we are ready to formalize them in one way or another," Lavrov said.
On the possibility of a meeting between Putin and Zelensky
Lavrov stressed that the possibility of a meeting between Putin and Zelensky will only appear if the negotiations between Moscow and Kiev are resumed as a whole: "First we need the negotiation teams to resume their work."
Lavrov called the Ukrainian president's approach to the negotiations unserious: "Zelensky wants a meeting for the sake of a meeting, he is fickle as the wind<...>". The resumption of the dialogue depends on the position of Kiev, which has not yet given an answer to the Russian version of the agreement, presented in mid-April: "The ball is on the Ukrainians' side for almost two months now.
According to Cavusoglu, Ankara sees an opportunity for resuming negotiations between Moscow and Kiev and is ready to organize a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders. The minister noted that Turkey understands Ukraine's dissatisfaction over the republic's refusal to join the anti-Russian sanctions, but "tries from the very beginning to maintain a balanced policy and not to try to please any of the parties."
On Syria
Moscow will continue to cooperate with Ankara "on Syrian affairs" and understands its concerns about the threats posed on Turkish borders by "external forces," including Americans illegally present in Syria, Lavrov said. He reiterated Russia's commitment to the agreements with Turkey - they are being implemented slowly, but the sides fully share the goals.
Cavusoglu advocated continuing work in the Astana format, which includes Iran along with Russia and Turkey, and stressed the West's fault for supporting "terrorist elements in northern Syria." "We expect both the US and Russia to implement the agreements to clear these regions of terrorists."
On relations between Moscow and Ankara
The relations between Russia and Turkey, according to Lavrov, are in a "period of mature partnership." "They are based on pragmatism, on respect and consideration for each other's interests, on respect for the principles of good neighborliness."
On the behavior of Ukrainian representatives
The Russian foreign minister described the behavior of Ukrainian ambassadors in a number of Western countries as unacceptable and boorish: "I am also sometimes reproached for not picking my words too much, but still, strong language is one thing and the meaning of what is being said is another." He said he had briefly discussed this matter with Cavusoglu, and they "have a common understanding that it is better to speak decently".
Lavrov himself had to deal with inappropriate behavior right at the press conference when a Ukrainian journalist decided to ask the minister, out of order, what "of the stolen goods in Ukraine, in addition to grain, Russia has already managed to sell". " Are you always concerned about where to steal and what? And you think everyone does that?", responded the head of the foreign ministry.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS