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Sanctions must be lifted from Moscow to resolve food crisis — official

It is stated that the issue should be resolved comprehensively

MOSCOW, May 23. /TASS/. Settling the food crisis could be possible after sanctions against Russian exports are lifted, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko told reporters on Monday.

"Moscow sees a very simple [way out]: all restrictive measures that have been introduced against Russian exports should be cancelled," he said.

"When we are told that these sanctions do not affect food and fertilizers, this is not entirely true, because there are issues related to payment for such supplies, there are issues with insurance, with the access of Russian ships to European ports and others. Therefore, this issue should be resolved comprehensively," the Deputy Minister added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address on February 24 that in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics he had made a decision to carry out a special military operation in order to protect people "who have been suffering from abuse and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years." The Russian leader stressed Moscow had no plans to occupy Ukrainian territories, noting that the operation was aimed at the denazification and demilitarization of Ukraine.