Russian Foreign Ministry warns against trying not to honor agreement on Russian grain exports

MOSCOW. Aug 2 (Interfax) - Moscow warns the West against trying to dodge the agreement on Russian grain exports, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Tuesday.

"Please be advised that the agreements reached in Istanbul are of a package nature. [...] Hence, we are warning against trying to stall or dodge the second part of the package and doing everything to prevent it from being implemented. Or else the world may fail to receive tens of millions of tonnes of Russian grain because of the irresponsible policy of the West," Zakharova said at a press briefing.

The first ship, flying the flag of Sierra Leone, left the Odesa port on Monday with corn onboard headed to Lebanon, she said.

"We are expecting Kyiv to honor its obligation to ensure the safety of ships in Black Sea ports and the territorial waters of Ukraine," Zakharova said.

"At the same time, the full-scale resolution of the food problem implies that the West gives access to global markets to Russian fertilizers and food, i.e. removes the financial and logistical impediments created by its anti-Russian restrictions," she said.