Russian Foreign Ministry: The West is preparing a story about Russian sabotage against one of the bulk carriers

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, announced possible provocative actions by the West in order to discredit Russia, a corresponding statement published on the website of the department. In particular, she accused foreign countries of the planned stuffing that Russia is allegedly preparing a sabotage against one of the dry cargo ships that leave the ports of Ukraine as part of the “grain deal”.

“According to available information, Westerners do not intend to be content with declarative statements, but are planning provocative actions in order to denigrate Russia in the eyes of the world community. In particular, a media story is being prepared that Moscow is allegedly dissatisfied with the results of a food deal for sea supplies of Ukrainian grain and is preparing a sabotage against one of the commercial ships. <...> We warn the West against such unacceptable and dangerous provocations, the entire responsibility for which will fall on their organizers. It is specified that the purpose of this stuffing is to discredit Russia and limit its participation in the G20 forum.

Zakharova also stressed that Russia remains committed to the agreements reached on July 22 in Istanbul with the mediation of the UN on the safe transportation of grain and food from the ports of Ukraine. She also recalled that at the same time a bilateral agreement was concluded with the UN Secretariat to promote the promotion of Russian food products and fertilizers to world markets.

On July 22, representatives of Turkey and the UN signed separate agreements with representatives of Russia and Ukraine on the export of Ukrainian grain, as well as on assistance in the export of Russian grain and fertilizers. On July 27, the Joint Coordination Center for the export of grain began its work in Istanbul.

By information Interdepartmental Coordinating Headquarters of Russia for Humanitarian Response as of August 22, since the beginning of the month, 31 ships left the ports of Ukraine, including 19 blocked ones, with 689,650 tons of food on board. Another 51 foreign vessels from 14 states remain in blocked Ukrainian ports.

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