Russian Federation Stands Ready to Discuss Grain Exports with Ukraine – Lavrov

Besides Russia and Ukraine, the UN representatives may take part in grain corridors talks. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia is ready to hold a quadrilateral meeting on Ukrainian grain exports. He discussed this issue with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu on Wednesday, June 8, in Ankara. “As for additional meetings in Istanbul, we are ready for them. We appreciate the interest of the UN to get involved in some way, to mark their involvement. But frankly, apart from some symbolism, it will not add anything,” he said. Lavrov said that if Ukraine clears the ports, Russia will not use the situation for the purposes of the military operation. “When and if Ukraine agrees to demining and allows the withdrawal of ships from its ports, we will not use this situation in favor of a special operation. These are guarantees of the Russian president and we are ready to formalize them one way or another,” Lavrov said. He also commented on the possibility of a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Zelensky wants a meeting for the sake of a meeting. He is as changeable as a weathercock. He has stated more than once: I will talk, we will resume negotiations only if the Russians remove their contingents to the line which existed before February 24. But this is not a serious approach. Moreover, it completely contradicts the initiatives which the Ukrainian delegation itself put forward on March 29 here in Istanbul,” he said. According to Lavrov, it is necessary for the negotiating teams to resume their work. Earlier it was reported that Turkiye has prepared a roadmap to export Ukrainian grain. Ankara is discussing this issue with Moscow, but Ukraine is not taking part in the talks. Корреспондент