Explosive scene: When Lavrov is asked by a Ukraine journalist about stolen grain, he becomes abusive
Created: 06/10/2022, 04:50
By: Richard Strobl
Sergei Lavrov traveled to Turkey to talk about grain supplies from Ukraine.
When asked by a journalist, he became abusive.
Ankara - The dispute over outstanding grain deliveries in the escalated Ukraine conflict is coming to a head.
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had now traveled to Ankara to negotiate the problem there.
So far, no real solution has emerged.
On the other hand, a delicate scene took place on the fringes of the meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
At a press conference, a Ukrainian journalist was given the opportunity to ask Lavrov a question and jumped at the chance to rant: “Of all that has been stolen from Ukraine, what has Russia already been able to sell - apart from grain? ' That was the provocative question to Lavrov.
Lavrov counters Ukrainian grain question with abusive words
The Russian foreign minister initially asks in surprise: “Excuse me?” When the journalist then repeats his question, Lavrov interrupts him: “Oh, you are talking about that.
You Ukrainians are always busy with what you can steal and from where, and you think that everyone thinks so,” ntv translates the conversation, which was held in Russian.
A very disparaging smile crosses Lavrov's lips.
Turkish Minister Cavusoglu also openly laughed at the Russian's failure to counterattack.
Russia celebrates May 9th - military parade in Moscow
View photo gallery
After that, Lavrov returns to the usual Russian propaganda: “We are implementing the goals that have been publicly proclaimed: freeing eastern Ukraine from the oppression of the neo-Nazi regime.
That's what we do."
Turkey meeting on Ukraine grain with no real result
Then he also goes into the grain and repeats previous statements: Russia, for its part, blames Ukraine for the fact that deliveries could not be made.
According to Lavrov, Ukraine has so far refused to demin its ports or otherwise allow cargo ships to pass through.
The meeting between Lavrov and Cavusoglu did not bring any concrete results, such as the establishment of a security corridor.
Sergey Lavrov (l), Foreign Minister of Russia, and Mevlut Cavusoglu, Foreign Minister of Turkey, speak during a joint press conference.
© Burhan Ozbilici/dpa
also read
"Like 1945": Putin is confident of victory - but the West puts the next damper on Russia
Ukraine escalation: Kremlin propagandist threatens Germany with invasion
In fact, the Russian Navy has been blockading the Ukrainian Black Sea ports for more than three months since the war of aggression against the neighboring country began.
Ukraine, the world's fourth largest grain exporter, is therefore stuck on its own stocks.
According to Ukrainian data, more than 23 million tons of grain and oilseeds cannot be exported.
Before the war, 90 percent of exports went beyond the ports.
Three of them - Mariupol, Berdyansk and Cherson - are under Russian control.
The port in Mykolaiv was badly damaged, so negotiations are now primarily about the release of Odessa.
(rjs/dpa)
This map shows where the Ukraine war is raging.