Ukraine needs third countries' guarantees to open safe passages for grain exports - Agrarian Council head

MOSCOW. June 9 (Interfax) - Ukraine needs first to receive firm security guarantees from third countries before routes for exporting Ukrainian grain are opened, and the security of such a passage for grain exports cannot be guaranteed if it is ensured only by Turkey and Russia, the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council said, citing its head Andriy Dykun.

"Russia must give guarantees to third countries, which we can trust, regarding the security of grain exports by sea," the Ukrainian media quoted Dykun as saying.

Security guarantees should also be given to buyers of Ukrainian grain facing high risks in the mined waters of the Black Sea, he said.

The Ukrainian Grain Association's acting executive director Serhiy Ivashchenko said on June 8 that the Ukrainian government is not participating in negotiations underway in Istanbul, where Turkish and Russian officials are discussing the possibility of opening a "green corridor" for grain exports as the Ukrainian seaports remain blocked. Nor has Ukraine considered granting Turkey a discount in return for its mediation.

Turkey's Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Vahit Kirisci told the Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak earlier that his country stands ready to act as a mediator in arranging grain exports from Ukrainian ports, and Ukraine has agreed to give Turkey a 25% discount on agricultural products in return for Turkey's mediation in restoring maritime commerce.