The United States of America (US) and the European Union asked Russia yesterday, Thursday, to quickly agree to open Ukrainian ports for the export of the millions of tons of stored grain, allowing to alleviate the global food crisisl.

Moscow "must act immediately to open those ports and end this war," US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told a press conference at UN headquarters in New York. "This is a serious thing, we must not use food as a weapon," he insisted.

According to Lusa, the United Nations Organization (UN) has been negotiating for several weeks with Moscow, Kiev and Ankara military guarantees for the use of the Black Sea by civilian ships, an agreement that would allow Ukrainian grain to leave the country safely and Russian-produced fertilizer to return to the international market.

Moscow complains of obstacles to its exports due to economic sanctions.

If an agreement were reached, it would reduce food prices and ease the world food crisis, which is worsening due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Tom Vilsack reiterated that U.S. sanctions do not target food and fertilizer, a position that was repeated by European Union diplomacy chief Josep Borrell during a UN Security Council meeting.

"EU sanctions are not the cause of the food shortages" because "they target the Kremlin's ability to fund military aggression - not the conduct of legitimate trade," Borrell said.

"The European Union sanctions do not prohibit the import and transport of Russian agricultural products, nor fertilizers, nor payment for these Russian exports," and the "our measures do not affect the ability of third countries to buy from Russia," Borrell added.

About the ongoing discussions, the US secretary said he hopes the Russians will negotiate "in good faith," "seriously and not just do it to create an image" of goodwill. "I encourage Russia" to contribute to "the reopening of the ports and to do it quickly. Because the need is immediate," he said.

Asked about a plan by US President Joe Biden to establish silos in Poland to receive Ukrainian grain, Tom Vilsack explained that this is to "reduce the risk of loss" of grain, prevent its theft, and preserve its quality.

Vilsack also announced that the US Government and the Ministry of Agricultural and Food Policy of Ukraine have established a Memorandum of Understanding to improve coordination between the agricultural and food sectors of the two countries and build a strategic partnership to address food security.

"This memorandum will expand the strategic partnership between our two nations and leverage our collective strength to increase productivity, address supply chain issues and identify food security challenges. This is an important step and, when implemented, will better enable us to combat global food insecurity together," said Vilsack.

Currently, "Russia is blocking at least 20 million tons of Ukrainian grain that cannot reach world markets," Josep Borrell denounced, also asking Moscow to allow the reopening of the ports under Russian blockade.

"That's the equivalent of 300 huge ships that were supposed to dock at ports around the world. Instead, Russia is bombing Ukraine's ports, infrastructure and farmland," the European leader said.

Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya, meanwhile, rejected these accusations: "They are trying to put the blame on Russia, with unfounded allegations of bombing grain stores, blockades of grain. There is no obstacle in that sense."

On Wednesday, Turkey announced that it was ready to host "a four-way meeting," with the UN, Russia and Ukraine, to organize the exit of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea.

"Turkey supports" the plan proposed by the UN "and awaits Russia's feedback," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said, adding that technical meetings between the soldiers continue.

"We must respond to everyone's concerns," the minister said. "Russia wants to make sure that the boats do not carry weapons, and Ukraine wants to make sure that Russia will not use these corridors to attack," he explained.