Russia says it would let ships carrying food exports leave Ukraine if some sanctions were lifted

In exchange for the lifting of sanctions, the Kremlin would allow ships carrying food to leave Ukrainian ports, according to a senior Russian government official.

More than 20 million metric tons of grains have been stuck in Ukraine since the Black Sea ports were blocked by Russia. According to ING Economics, Ukraine accounts for 12% of global wheat exports and 17% of global corn exports. It is also the world's largest oil exporter.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said on Wednesday that a resolution of the food problem would require a comprehensive approach, including the lifting of sanctions imposed on Russian exports and financial transactions.

Vassily Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations, said there is a safe corridor that allows access to the key Odesa port.

Nebenzia said that the safe corridors can be used, but that Ukraine needs to demine the waters.

The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that the Russian navy has disrupted trade at Ukraine ports and is in control of all traffic in the northern third of the Black Sea. The Post says this makes commercial shipping unsafe.

Zelenskyy said on May 21 that a global food crisis was on the horizon if his country could not ship grains out of its ports.

There will be a crisis in the world. Russia provoked the second crisis after the energy one. According to a transcript from his office, Zalenskyy said that a food crisis would be created if we did not unblock the routes for Ukraine.

The war has caused disruptions in production and shipping from Russia and Ukraine, causing prices of commodities to go up.

According to CNN, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba hit back at Rudenko, calling him clear blackmail.

Kuleba told the World Economic Forum that there was a problem with the person and that they shouldn't buy it.