Egypt Will Receive Full Supply of Russian Grain, Lavrov Says

Egypt will receive a full supply of Russian grain, despite the war in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during a visit to Cairo on Sunday. Some 80% of the grain used in Egypt is imported from Russia and Ukraine, and the supply has been disrupted since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February.

“We reaffirmed the commitment of Russian grain exporters to meet all their commitments,” Lavrov told reporters in Cairo during an appearance with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. Lavrov also said that Russian ships will escort ships carrying grain picked up at Ukrainian ports through the Black Sea.

A blockade of Ukrainian ports by Russia’s Black Sea fleet since the start of the war has trapped tens of millions of tons of grain. This has contributed to a shortage of grain worldwide. Lavrov took exception to the fact that the worldwide grain shortage has been blamed on Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine. Russia blames Ukrainian mines laid in the Black Sea for the holdup.

While in Cairo, Lavrov met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and representatives of the Arab League. From Egypt, Lavrov will visit several African states.