Reside updates: Russia’s battle in Ukraine

Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov mentioned Wednesday that Russia’s intentions and targets in Ukraine are “clear” and maintained that Moscow isn’t halting grain exports from Ukraine.

Throughout a joint press convention with Turkish International Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara, a Ukrainian journalist requested Lavrov: “Except for the grain merchandise, what [else] did Russia steal from Ukraine?”

He responded that “close to grains, there isn’t a impediment or problem brought on by the Russian Federation.”

“Mr. Zelensky wants to present an instruction in order that Ukrainian ports can grow to be protected,” Lavrov mentioned, reiterating his earlier remarks that Ukraine must de-mine its waters to make sure the protected passage of ships. 

Lavrov mentioned “we aren’t those responsible” for creating a difficulty and that “the ball is of their [Ukraine’s] courtroom.”

The Russian international minister mentioned Russia is discussing securing the protected passage of ships with the Turkish navy. 

Lavrov mentioned Russia has “clear intentions and clear targets” in Ukraine, which he claimed are to “liberate” the nation from a “neo-Nazi regime,” as soon as once more repeating a false declare from the Kremlin about Ukraine’s authorities.

The spokesperson for Ukraine’s International Ministry hit again at Lavrov’s statements.

“Lavrov’s phrases are empty,” Oleg Nikolenko said via Twitter, alongside photographs of reports headlines summarizing Lavrov’s statements.

“Ukraine has made its place on the ocean ports clear: navy tools is required to guard the shoreline and a navy mission to patrol the export routes within the Black Sea. Russia can’t be allowed to make use of grain corridors to assault southern Ukraine,” Nikolenko mentioned.

CNN’s Mick Krever contributed reporting to this submit.