Russia says it did everything to avert global food crisis amid Ukraine operation
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says his country did everything in its power to avert a food crisis amid Moscow's ongoing military operation in Ukraine.
Lavrov made the remarks during a visit to Bahrain on Tuesday, amid a Western media fanfare that has been accusing Russia of upsetting timely flow of food staples out of the ex-Soviet republic.
The top diplomat recalled that Russia opened safe passages for the vessels that export the Ukrainian grain every day. To completely unblock the navigation, however, Ukraine has to clear mines in its territorial waters, he added.
"If the problem of clearing mines is solved, in the open sea, the Russian navy will provide an unhindered passage of the vessels to the Mediterranean Sea and further to the points of destination," he pledged.
The top diplomat said it was now up to Western countries whether they sought to “make publicity” on food security or to address the existing problem.
"Everything that depends on us has been guaranteed from the Russian side for a long time. But Western countries, which have created a lot of artificial problems with the closure of their ports for Russian ships, cutting Russia from logistics and financial chains, should, of course, seriously think about what is more important for them -- to make publicity on the problem of food security or to solve the problem with concrete steps," the foreign minister said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in Ukraine in February in order to “demilitarize” the Donetsk and Lugansk regions in eastern Ukraine, which together form the Donbas region. In 2014, the two regions declared themselves new republics, refusing to recognize Ukraine’s Western-backed government.
Ordering the operation, Putin said the mission was aimed at “defending people who for eight years were suffering persecution and genocide by the Kiev regime.”
Moscow has vowed to stop the operation once its list of security demands were met. The demands include Ukraine's refusal to join the Western military alliance of NATO and its provision of due protection for Russia's interests on its soil.
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