Wheat in the fields. File photoWASHINGTON, Jun 6The United States will not lift restrictive measures against Moscow in order to resume the export of Ukrainian grain to the world market, Politico writes, citing a source in the US government. It is reported that Washington is following the negotiations that the UN and Turkey are conducting with Russia, but are skeptical about possible their results. «One US official described Moscow's request as «extortion diplomacy» and said the US would not agree to a deal that would remove any economic pressure from the Kremlin,» the publication claims. An unnamed UN official told the portal that linking grain supplies with the lifting of anti-Russian restrictive measures «complicates» the already «fragile» negotiation process. The United States and its allies accuse Moscow of blocking the Black Sea coast of Ukraine and preventing the supply of grain to the world market.
There are no problems with the export of grain from Ukraine, Putin saidEarlier President Vladimir Putin told the Rossiya 24 channel that there are no problems with the export of grain from Ukraine, and Moscow does not interfere with this. If Kyiv clears the ports of mines, ships with agricultural products will be able to leave without any problems, he said. Putin explained that Ukrainian grain can be exported through the Danube, Poland, and the cheapest way is through Belarus, but then sanctions must be lifted. Last week, in a telephone conversation with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Putin noted that Moscow was ready to contribute to overcoming food crisis through the export of grain and fertilizers, subject to the lifting of political sanctions by the West. He also stressed that the situation in the food sector has worsened due to restrictive measures imposed by the United States and the European Union. «during Lavrov's visit
