Russia is ready to cooperate with Turkey on the issue of the export of Ukrainian grain, as well as is open to interaction, if the Kiev authorities are ready for it - the main thing is for Kiev to ensure the passage of ships through the mined waters or demining them, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
"If now, as our Turkish friends tell us, the Ukrainian side is ready to ensure passage: either to clear mines or to ensure passage through minefields, well, let's hope that the problem will be solved," Lavrov said at a press conference following talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
He noted that the Russian and Turkish militaries intend to be in contact on the issue. "From our side, I repeat, there have never been any obstacles to solving this problem - even a problem, it is small in fact. If the authorities in Kiev are ready, we will be only too happy to cooperate. And once again I thank our Turkish friends for their attention to this problem," the minister added.
He explained that the main problem was that Kiev categorically refused to solve the problem of demining the ports. "If now they have changed their attitude, then there are no difficulties from our side, and we will see how the agreements preliminary, which we discussed yesterday and today, will be translated into practical cases," said the minister.
"We are ready to ensure the security of vessels that leave Ukrainian ports and go to the straits, we are ready to do so in cooperation with our Turkish colleagues," Lavrov stressed.
Moscow appreciates Ankara's efforts on the issue of Ukrainian grain exports, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday.
He noted that the share of Ukrainian grain in the world is not that significant.
"We very much appreciate, nevertheless, the efforts of our Turkish friends who are looking for ways to unblock the situation, how to export grain from Ukrainian ports and let foreign ships, of which there are several dozen and which are generally used there as hostages, by and large, get out of these ports," Lavrov said.
Earlier, Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said that there is some progress in the issue of the export of grain from the Black Sea ports, but there are still technical issues that require discussions with Russia, Ukraine and the UN.
The UN has repeatedly spoken about the threat of a food crisis due to a shortage of grain, the West accused Russia of preventing the supply of Ukrainian grain to world markets - Moscow has flatly denied such accusations. At the same time, the Kiev authorities themselves created many obstacles for export of grain: in addition to the now revealed arson in the port of Mariupol, the Ukrainian troops mined the waters of the Black Sea, which does not allow to deliver grain to world markets by ships.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that there are no problems with the export of grain from Ukraine and Russia does not prevent it. If Ukraine demines its ports, ships with grain will be able to leave them without any problems, he said.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Manfred Richter/Pixabay
Based on materials from RIA Novosti