US urges G20 to press Russia to reopen sea lanes for grain delivery

A dockyard worker watches as barley grains are mechanically loaded into a ship weighing 40,000 tons at the shipment terminal of a Ukrainian agricultural exporter in the south Ukrainian city Nikolaev on 9 July, 2013.

The meeting of G20 foreign Ministers in Bali this week will focus on food and energy security. Members should insist that Russia supports U.N. efforts in reopening sea lanes closed by Moscow's war with Ukraine, a top U.S. official said on Tuesday (5 July).

Ramin Toloui was the assistant secretary of state in economic and business affairs and told reporters that Secretary of State Antony Blinken would increase energy security at Friday's G20 ministers session and in bilateral meetings in Bali.

He said that the G20 countries should hold Russia responsible and insist on its support for U.N. efforts in reopening sea lanes for grain delivery. This refers to an initiative to help Ukrainian and Russian food and fertilizer reach global markets.

He said that Secretary Blinken would make the important point of whether that takes place at the G20 level or the individual G20 countries.

Daniel Kritenbrink (the top US diplomat to East Asia), said that he expects a "candid" discussion on Ukraine when Blinken meets China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the G20 sidelines.

He said that this would be another chance for China to communicate its expectations regarding what they expect from them in the contexts of Ukraine.

China and Russia announced a partnership "without limits" shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24th. Officials from the United States have stated that they have not seen China violate U.S.-led sanctions against Moscow or provide Russia with military equipment.

China has, however, refused to condemn Russia's actions. It has also criticized the broad Western sanctions.

Officials from the United States have warned about sanctions and consequences if China offers material support to Russia's war effort.

Washington considers China its most strategic adversary and is concerned that it may one day try to overthrow the democratically-governed island of Taiwan with force, much like Russia did with Ukraine.

Kritenbrink stated that it was crucial to keep open lines of communication between America's Chinese counterparts in order to prevent miscalculations that could lead inadvertently into conflict and confrontation.