To resume Ukrainian grain exports, russia must first withdraw all its forces in the maritime water area around Ukraine and provide security guarantees against attacks on ports and commercial convoys.
This was announced by the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleh Nikolenko in response to a statement by russian Foreign Minister Sergiy Lavrov that "the russians will let pass ships with grain if Ukraine demines ports".
Nikolenko noted that it was russia that besieged our ports, mined part of the water area and is constantly trying to break through the defense of Odesa from the Black Sea.
As of now, about 22 million tons of grain are stuck in Ukrainian ports and cannot reach consumers, particularly in Africa and Asia.
«Alternative land routes will not completely solve the problem, as they have low bandwidth. In addition, russia steals Ukrainian grain in the occupied territories to sell it illegally to third countries», the spokesman of the MFA of Ukraine said.
He stressed that russia's actions could lead to a global food crisis and, in some regions, even a famine.
Russia must immediately unblock Ukrainian seaports, stop shelling Odesa and other coastal cities, withdraw its navy to a distance that will prevent attacks on merchant ships, and not create obstacles to international navigation.
Ukraine and its partners are working on the possibility of establishing an international mission, in particular under United Nations auspices, which will take over the functioning of maritime routes for the export of Ukrainian agricultural products.
Nikoleno called on the countries whose food security could suffer the most from russia's aggression against Ukraine to use their contacts with Moscow to force it to lift the blockade of Ukrainian seaports and end the war.
Russia is using the blockade of Ukrainian grain exports to create a food crisis. The Kremlin is blackmailing the West with hunger, saying it is ready to let ships with products in exchange for lifting sanctions.
The United States and other countries do not go for that.
Ukraine proposes to resume exports, provided that the ships will be accompanied by foreign convoys. Russia's criminal actions in Ukraine could lead to a global food crisis that will leave 18 million people on the brink of starvation.