By KYIV. May 13 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said that everyone involved in the sale, transportation or purchase of stolen Ukrainian grain in the regions occupied by the Russian Federation will be considered an accomplice in the crime, and the transaction itself will entail international legal consequences, the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reported on Thursday.
"Russia is a triple criminal: it bombed Syria, occupied part of Ukraine, and now it is selling stolen Ukrainian grain to Syria. I would like to remind the participants in this deal: stolen goods have never brought happiness to anyone. Everyone involved in the sale, transportation or purchase of stolen grain is an accomplice in the crime. Your actions will have adequate international legal consequences. We will do everything to make your life as difficult as possible," Kuleba said, commenting on media reports that on May 11, a Russian ship with stolen Ukrainian grain moored off the coast of Syria.
The Minister recalled that earlier, thanks to the efforts of Ukrainian diplomats, Egypt and Lebanon refused to buy the loot. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry also warned other consumer countries that the batches of grain sold by the Russian Federation may partially or completely contain stolen grain obtained as a result of marauding actions of Russian invaders.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine categorically condemns the actions of the Russian Federation on the disposal of grain illegally expropriated from Ukrainian farmers. By its actions, Russia once again proves its criminal nature as a marauding country," the ministry’s statement emphasizes.
According to the Ukrainian government, the invaders have already stolen at least 400,000-500,000 tonnes of grain worth over $100 million. Almost all ships leaving Sevastopol with grain are carrying stolen Ukrainian products. The theft of Ukrainian grain by Russia is confirmed both by numerous testimonies of Ukrainian farmers and documentary evidence.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on the international community to tighten economic sanctions in order to stop armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, preventing a humanitarian catastrophe and worsening the situation with food security in the world.
