MOSCOW, April 30. /TASS/. Mines laid by Ukrainian troops are drifting in the Black Sea and pose threat to navigation and port infrastructure of Black Sea countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in the interview with the Xinhua news agency.
"The Ukrainian side continues blocking foreign ships, creating the threat of their shelling in its inland waters and the territorial sea. Furthermore, units of the Ukrainian navy planted mines on the coast, in port areas and territorial waters," the Russian Minister said. "These explosive devices came loose from mooring cables and drift to the open sea, and therefore pose a major threat for navies and for the port infrastructure of Black Sea countries," Lavrov noted.
Russia is taking measures to support civil vessels traffic in areas of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, the Minister said. "A humanitarian corridor, which is a safe line for the ship traffic, is being opened daily," he added.
Russia intends to continue fair performance of its commitments under international contracts in respect of export supplies of foods, fertilizers, energy resources and other critical products, Lavrov said.
"Our tit-for-tat special economic measures required to support normal functioning of the Russian economy will continue to be effective and will be expanded during the period of remaining turbulence. Russia as a responsible global market player intends to continue fair performance of its obligations under international contracts in terms of export deliveries of agricultural goods, fertilizers, energy resources and other critical products," Lavrov said.
Moscow is deeply concerned of the possible food crisis provoked by sanctions against Russia and is well aware of significant of delivering social goods, including foods, for socioeconomic development of countries of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, the Minister added.
Russia has overcome the sanction pressure of Western states and the situation has already been stabilizing, Lavrov said.
"The special operation for protection of Donbass has become the cause for the collective West to introduce large-scale restrictive measures against Russia, its legal entities and individuals. The US, the UK, Canada, countries of the European Union do not hide the goal of "strangling" our economy, undermining its competitiveness and blocking further progressive development of the country," Lavrov said. "It is obvious such anti-Russian line cannot be justified by anything and also has no prospects. As President [of Russia Vladimir] Putin noted, Russia withstood this unprecedented pressure. The situation is stabilizing now, although, certainly, by no means all risks have already gone. In any case, it will not work out to weaken us," the Minister said.
Russia "will readjust the economy and safeguard itself against possible illegitimate unfriendly actions of opponents in future," Lavrov noted. "We will continue responding in a balanced and appropriate way to introduced restrictions, following tasks of supporting stability of the Russian economy, its financial system, and interests of domestic business and the entire population," he added.
"We will proceed with the adaptation to external challenges and intensify development programs for promising and competitive sectors," the Minister added.