Blinken tells Russia at G20 talks 'let the grain out' of Ukraine
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Russia insists that prior to any such negotiations, Kiev must free its ports, demine them, or secure safe passage across minefields.
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Blinken tells Russia at G20 talks 'let the grain out' of Ukraine.
During closed-door G20 talks in Indonesia on Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken insisted that Russia let grain supplies out of Ukraine, a Western official said.
"To our Russian colleagues: Ukraine is not your country. Its grain is not your grain. Why are you blocking the ports? You should let the grain out," said Blinken, according to a Western official present.
Blinken has refused to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, but during the negotiations, he addressed Russia and spelled out US financial help to alleviate global food shortages, which are claimed by the US to be caused by the crisis in Ukraine, a major source of world grain and corn exports.
"Russia is the source of the problem, the United States is focused on solutions," Blinken said, according to the official.
Moscow said it would let Ukrainian ships carrying food depart if the Ukrainian military demined its ports, an option Kiev rejects over claims it is concerned for the safety of its Black Sea coast.
Read next: Russia's Lavrov dismisses West's criticism at G20
Export of grain from Ukraine: Lavrov
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Friday that Russia is ready to negotiate grain exports from Ukraine.
"We are ready for talks with our Ukrainian and Turkish counterparts," Lavrov said during a press conference, adding that the parties "have all the solutions."
Kiev must free its ports, demine them, or secure safe passage across minefields before Ukraine, Russia, and Turkey jointly ensure the safety of relevant ships and accompany them to the straits, according to Russia's foreign ministry. The ships will then travel to the Mediterranean Sea on their own.
On July 3rd, and upon Ukraine's request, Turkey detained a Russian ship suspected of carrying Ukrainian grain. The detained ship has been returned to Russian territorial waters, a Turkish source told AFP. Turkey’s decision to return the ship to Moscow has drawn angry condemnations from Kiev.
Officials in Ukraine said the grain on the ship was seized from Berdyansk Port in the southeastern province of Zaporizhzhia. The area is currently under the control of Russian forces.
