While it's true that Russia did invade Ukraine after building up its forces for several months, not much else about the war there that we're being told by Kyiv-friendly Western media is accurate.
For instance, Russia is being blamed for 'blocking Ukrainian grain shipments,' thereby 'worsening the food shortage around the world,' but in fact, Russia has been working with the United Nations and anyone else who will listen to unblock the grain. Only, Kyiv isn't cooperating.
In fact, Ukraine has mined ports and harbors previously used for exports including grain, and Russia is in talks to try and get them de-mined so much-needed grain can begin flowing to the neediest parts of the world again.
For days the United Nations has been in (so far unsuccessful) talks on cobbling together an agreement on plans to unblock Black Sea grain exports from Ukrainian ports, including controversial discussions with Russia, which has stood accused of 'weaponizing' global food supply with its military blockade of key ports. Moscow has in turn charged that Ukraine said ports, making tanker traffic impossible, while also saying the West must ease sanctions if it hopes to get crucial grain exports flowing again.
UN officials have said President Vladimir Putin's offer to lift the blockade if sanctions are dropped is "complicating" the already "fragile" negotiations. Washington has been watching with skepticism.
"The bottom line is that, apart from leveraging overland routes, we need to get the ports back up and running so we can boost food supplies for those most in need," a State Department spokesperson said in weekend comments.
Earlier this week, Moscow reportedly reached an agreement with Turkey to build a de-mined "grain corridor" that provides safe passage for Ukrainian cargo ships hauling grain off of the Black Sea port of Odessa, under joint military escort.
The Turkish media outlet Daily Sabah reported this on Monday:
Russian government plans to allow ships carrying grain supplies to leave the port of Odessa in Ukraine, according to a report, easing a blockade that has triggered fears of widespread shortages and hunger.
The Russian leadership has agreed with Kyiv and Ankara on a scheme to release grain shipments from Odessa, which has been subject to a blockade, the pro-government Izvestia reported, citing government circles.
"In the territorial waters of the neighboring country, Turkish military forces will take over the demining and they will also escort the ships as far as neutral waters," Monday's report said.
Russian warships would then escort the vessels carrying grain to the Bosporus.
Meanwhile, according to Yahoo News, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov previously told reporters the talks with Turkey were ongoing.
"A conversation (between the Russian President Vladimir Putin) and President Erdo?an has resulted in an agreement that our Turkish colleagues will try to help to organize the demining of Ukrainian seaports in order to release ships which were technically taken hostage together with cargo needed in developing countries," he said.
As of this writing, it wasn't clear if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had yet signed on to the reported deal or if his government was even involved in trying to negotiate a compromise and settlement, or if Turkey was representing Kyiv's interests. No doubt Ukraine would benefit from the grain sales financially, given the cost of continuing to prosecute the war against Russia.
"Lavrov said this agreement stipulates that Ukraine will not use the demining process to strengthen its military capability and will not disrupt the Russian navy," the Yahoo News report continued.
The fact is, Ukraine is not entirely the victim in this conflict, and the fact that the West -- led by the Biden Crime Family, which used to be enriched by corrupt Ukrainian businessmen -- jumped to Kyiv's defense makes that clear.
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