![]() Russian state media indicated Moscow will take retaliatory steps against US reporters. Russia “will not forgive” the US for not issuing visas to Russian journalists to travel to the US and cover Lavrov's remarks, the foreign minister told journalists in an interview Sunday. Spat over visas: Moscow has ramped up its rhetoric in a diplomatic dispute with Washington leading up to the meeting. By and large, we do not have an agenda with the Americans for discussion at the ministerial level at the moment," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Sunday, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. Tensions continue to rise between Russia and the United States over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and deepening diplomatic rows. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his US counterpart, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, don't plan to meet on the sidelines of the United Nations Security Council meeting Lavrov is chairing Monday, according to Russian officials. ![]() Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks at a press conference during a visit to Venezuela on April 18. Russia has "once again" blocked 50 ships carrying "urgently needed" Ukrainian grain in the Black Sea, Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, said on April 17. Shipments have been stop-and-start during the deal, with each side accusing the other of sabotaging the operation at times. Ukraine and Russia, brokered by the UN and Turkey, established the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July 2022 to guarantee safe passage for ships carrying grain and oilseeds – some of Ukraine's most important exports. Some background: Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine led to a suspension of grain shipments in the Black Sea and a crisis on the global food market. "We condemn Russia's attempts to use food as a means of destabilization and as tool of geopolitical coercion and reiterate our commitment to acting in solidarity and supporting those most affected by Russia's weaponization of food," the G7 ministers said in the statement adding they "will continue to design restrictive measures against Russia to shield population in need from unintended consequences by ensuring food and fertilizers are carved out.”
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