Ukraine’s grain export crisis would have been resolved by now if Kiev and its Western allies had demined Black Sea ports, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a news conference after talks with the Foreign Minister. of Iran, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
“The attempts by Turkey and the UN Secretary General would have been successful long ago if Ukraine and its Western masters had resolved the issue of mine clearance in the Black Sea,” the minister said.
“Attempts to organize an international coalition for demining in Black Sea ports only aim to intervene in the affairs of the Black Sea region under UN auspices,” added Lavrov.
Earlier on Thursday, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said it was “urgent” to resolve Ukraine’s grain crisis next month to avoid “devastating” consequences.
Speaking in Ankara alongside Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Truss once again accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of “arming hunger” and stressed that if this difficult situation is not resolved, it will likely lead to “a huge hunger all over the world”.
“He [Putin] blocked Ukrainian ports and is preventing the export of 20 million tons of grain to the entire world, holding the world hostage,” said Truss, who is in Turkey to discuss the government-backed grain withdrawal plan.
Source: CNN Brasil
