The world faces famine if Russia does not lift the blockade of Ukrainian ports. Non-marine delivery methods can ensure the export of only a small amount of grain (less than 20%), Ukrainian Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov said in an interview with the Financial Times.

Ukraine, along with Western allies, is looking for ways to export about 20 million tons of grain and make room for the current crop. The crisis threatens tens of millions of people in the countries of the Middle East and Africa who depend on grain from Ukraine.

Trucks face long delays at the border with Poland and Romania, and transporting grain by rail is difficult as trains in the EU and Ukraine run on different rails. Russia has repeatedly bombed alternative routes, including those leading to Romania by road or rail, where the grain is then loaded onto barges sailing down the Danube to the Black Sea..

The EU has simplified its procedures and Ukraine is offering additional guarantees to European barges and trucks after most Western insurers backed down because of the risk.

Russia has captured much of Ukraine's granaries in the south and is advancing in the eastern industrial region of Donbass, the scene of the most intense fighting three months after Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

Since the end of February, Russia has seized territories where from 400 to 500 thousand tons of grain are located.. Some Ukrainian farms hit by airstrikes and artillery fire.

Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed the food crisis on sanctions against Russian exports and said that Moscow would lift the blockade only if restrictions were lifted.. On Friday, in an interview on state television, he said: "

Kubrakov warned that Russia's actions risk creating famine "

[see_also ids\u003d"

Earlier it was reported that Russia illegally exported to Syria about 100,000 tons of grain stolen in Ukraine worth over $40 million..

The Russian Federation blocks the export of more than 22 million tons of grain from Ukrainian ports and, meanwhile, itself plunders elevators in the occupied territories. Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba called on the countries of the world not to buy stolen goods and thus not give the aggressor the opportunity to make money on it.

On June 3, Ukrainian Ambassador to Turkey Vasily Bodnar said that Turkey is one of the countries buying grain from the Russian Federation, which Russia stole from Ukraine..