Russia and Turkey Discuss Ways to Export Russian Grain

The Russian Foreign Ministry indicated today, Tuesday, that Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan the ways to export Russian grain through routes "that will not be subject to sabotage by Kyiv or the West." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov pointed out that "shipping grain from Ukrainian ports across the Black Sea without security guarantees from Russia is risky because Ukraine uses those waters for military activities," following suggestions that Turkey should protect Ukrainian grain ships. Peskov stated, "Moscow rejects American criticism after withdrawing from the grain agreement brokered by Turkey and the United Nations." He added, "Russia will continue to supply grain to poor countries."