Russia to allow grain carriers to leave Ukraine

Russia is willing to provide a humanitarian corridor for vessels transporting food to leave Ukraine in exchange for Western countries lifting a few sanctions.

The information is from the Russian news agency Interfax, which quoted Russian deputy foreign minister Andrei Rudenko.

Russia shuttered Ukraine’s Black Sea ports on February 24, the first day of the war.

According to Ukrainian officials, more than 20 million tonnes of grain are currently trapped in silos across the country.

Russia and Ukraine account for nearly a third of global wheat supplies. Ukraine is also a major exporter of corn and sunflower oil.

Last week, the UN said the lack of grain exports from Ukraine’s ports contributes to a growing global food crisis.

Western powers have discussed creating “safe corridors” for grain exports from Ukraine’s ports, adding that any such corridor would need Russian consent.

“We have repeatedly stated on this point that a solution to the food problem requires a comprehensive approach, including lifting the sanctions that have been imposed on Russian exports and financial transactions,” Rudenko said.

Russia is in contact with the United Nations to discuss the matter, said another news outlet, RIA.

Interfax also quoted Rudenko as saying that a possible escort by Western ships of Ukrainian carriers “would seriously worsen the situation in the Black Sea.”

Britain said on Tuesday it had no plans to send British warships to help move food exports out of Odesa, Ukraine’s main deep-water port.

Source: Canal Rural

To read the full original article, please go to:

https://www.canalrural.com.br/noticias/internacional/russia-diz-que-vai-permitir-saida-de-navios-com-graos-da-ucrania/

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