There are currently no obstacles to the exportation of grain from Odessa, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday, noting that the grain deal signed by Moscow last week does not prevent Russia from continuing its military operation in Ukraine.
When asked about a recent strike on the Odessa port, Lavrov said that the West shares all Russia-related news in a "twisted" way.
Commenting on the strike, the minister said that these facilities are located in a separate part of the port, in the so-called military part, and these targets included a combat boat of the Ukrainian naval forces as well as an ammunition depot.
Lavrov highlighted that the grain terminal of the Odessa port is located "at a considerable distance" from the military unit, which is why the strike did not create any obstacles that would prevent the grain from being exported.
"There is nothing in the obligations that Russia took, including within the framework of the agreements signed on July 22 in Istanbul, which would prohibit us from continuing the special military operation, destroying military infrastructure and other military targets," Lavrov underlined.
On Friday, Ukrainian and Russian representatives signed a deal brokered by Turkey and the UN in Istanbul. The deal envisaged lifting restrictions on supplies of Russian products for export, as well as Moscow's assistance in exporting Ukrainian grain.