Official: Russia ready to export more grain if West lifts sanctions

MOSCOW, Jun 29 (PRIME) -- Russia is ready to export dozens of millions of tonnes of grain through the port of Novorossiysk, but the West has to lift sanctions first, Alexei Polishchuk, director of the Foreign Ministry’s second department of CIS countries, told PRIME on Wednesday.

“We are also ready to export dozens of millions of tonnes of Russian grain. But in order for us to transport it from Novorossiysk, we objectively need lifting of sanctions,” he said.

The sanctions bar entry of foreign ships to the Russian ports, entry and servicing of Russian ships in foreign ports, insurance of sea transportation and unhindered banking transactions, he said.

He said that Russia does not prevent Ukrainian grain exports and they only depend on Kiev, which has to ensure safe passage of ships in their territorial waters. They should either demine the waters or guide the ships, he said.

The commercial ships that will transport grain from Ukraine should also be inspected so that they don’t carry military-use goods, he said.

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