Lavrov called problem of grain exports from Ukraine "minor" and was rude replying to tough question

VALENTYNA ROMANENKO — WEDNESDAY, 8 JUNE 2022, 12:56

Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that military personnel of Russia and Turkey are discussing the details of demining Ukrainian ports for grain exports.

Source: Lavrov, quoted by the Russian propaganda publication RIA Novosti on 8 June

Details: Following negotiations with the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Lavrov said that Turkey had reportedly said that the Ukrainian side was ready to provide passage through minefields in the Black Sea or to demine [this area].

At the same time, Lavrov is trying to minimise the scale of the problem with the export of grain from Ukraine.

Quote from Lavrov: "Our military personnel, in contact with Turkish friends, are discussing the details of these processes and initiatives. For our part, there have never been any obstacles to solving this problem - it is really minor. If the Kyiv authorities are mature enough, we will be happy to cooperate."

Details: The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, which is waging a full-scale war against Ukraine, also said that Russia "guarantees the safe approach of ships after unblocking ports and will not use the occasion in support of the special operation."

This, they say, is a guarantee by the President of Russia.

Lavrov was rude when replying to a tough question from a journalist about what Russia has managed to sell from what was stolen from Ukraine in addition to grain.

Quote from Lavrov: "Have you always had a problem about where to snatch something, and you think that everyone is doing the same? We are pursuing goals that have been announced publicly - to free the east of Ukraine from the pressure of the neo-Nazi regime.

And grain can be transported freely to any destination. There are no obstacles from Russia. This requires Mr Zelenskyy to give the command, if he is in command of anything else there, to allow foreign and Ukrainian ships to enter the Black Sea."

Previously: On 7 May, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine stated that there are currently no agreements between Ukraine, Turkey and Russia on the unblocking of Ukrainian ports. The Ministry emphasised that any agreements that do not take into account the interests of Ukraine will be rejected.

Background: 

Russia mined and blockaded the Black Sea water area, cynically accusing Ukraine [of doing it], the country against which Russia is waging war. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, emphasised that the guarantees of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, cannot be trusted - his words are empty.

Due to the blockade of ports, 23.5 million tons of grain and oil seeds remain in Ukraine.