RUSSIA has offered 'safe passage' for Ukraine grain ships from Black Sea ports, but is not responsible for establishing the corridors and Turkey suggested that ships could be guided around sea mines.
Ukrainian grain shipments have stalled since Russia's invasion and ports blockade, stoking global prices for grains, cooking oils, fuel and fertiliser.
The UN is trying to broker a deal to resume Ukraine exports and Russian food and fertiliser exports, which Moscow says are harmed by sanctions.
Said Russia's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzias: 'We are not responsible for establishing safe corridors. We said we could provide safe passage if these corridors are established.
'It's obvious it's either de-mine the territory, which was mined by the Ukrainians, or ensure that the passage goes around those mines,' he told reporters.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said earlier that it would 'take some time' to de-mine Ukraine's ports but a safe sea corridor could be established in areas without mines under a UN proposal.
SeaNews Turkey
Ukrainian grain shipments have stalled since Russia's invasion and ports blockade, stoking global prices for grains, cooking oils, fuel and fertiliser.
The UN is trying to broker a deal to resume Ukraine exports and Russian food and fertiliser exports, which Moscow says are harmed by sanctions.
Said Russia's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzias: 'We are not responsible for establishing safe corridors. We said we could provide safe passage if these corridors are established.
'It's obvious it's either de-mine the territory, which was mined by the Ukrainians, or ensure that the passage goes around those mines,' he told reporters.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said earlier that it would 'take some time' to de-mine Ukraine's ports but a safe sea corridor could be established in areas without mines under a UN proposal.
SeaNews Turkey
