Russia says two Ukrainian ports ready to ship grain but Kyiv must demine coast

LONDON, June 7 (Reuters) – Russia stated on Tuesday that two main Ukrainian ports on the Sea of Azov seized by Russian forces have been ready to resume grain shipments, but the Kremlin stated Kyiv nonetheless wanted to demine the approaches to its ports for exports to happen.

Russia has seized massive components of Ukraine’s coast in almost 15 weeks of struggle and its warships management the Black and Azov Seas, blocking Ukraine’s farm exports and driving up the value of grain.

Ukraine and the West accuse Moscow of weaponising meals provides. Russia blames the scenario on what it says are Ukrainian mines, and on worldwide sanctions towards its personal financial system.

Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu stated the ports of Berdyansk and Mariupol, the latter metropolis destroyed after a three-month Russian siege, had resumed their operations.

“The de-mining of Mariupol’s port has been completed. It is functioning normally, and has received its first cargo ships,” Shoigu stated in televised feedback.

The Sea of Azov is shallower than the Black Sea and its ports are solely accessible to smaller vessels. Ukraine’s most important port of Odesa stays blocked.

More than 20 million tonnes of grain are caught in Ukraine awaiting cargo, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated this might rise to 75 million by the autumn.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov instructed reporters Ukraine nonetheless wanted to demine its coast for grain exports to happen.

“This will allow ships, once checked by our military to make sure they are not carrying any weapons, to enter the ports, load grain and with our help, proceed to international waters,” he stated.

Ukraine has accused Russia of stealing important grain provides – claims U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has referred to as “credible” – whereas Moscow says Western sanctions are to blame for the scenario, which has threatened to set off a world meals disaster. learn extra

The United Nations is engaged on plans with Kyiv and Moscow for a way to restart grain exports from Ukrainian ports, with Turkey probably set to present naval escorts to guarantee protected passage out of the Black Sea. learn extra

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will go to Turkey on Wednesday to talk about the proposals.

Shoigu additionally stated Russian forces had restored railway site visitors throughout southern and japanese Ukraine and began delivering cargo to Mariupol, Berdyansk and Kherson on 1,200 km (750 miles) of reopened tracks.

Creating a so-called “land corridor” between Russia and the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014, has been a serious a part of Russia’s technique for the reason that begin of its offensive.

Reporting by Reuters

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