MOSCOW, Oct 20 — Russia’s foreign ministry said today that Moscow was ready to boost exports of food and fertilisers to help avert a global food crisis, but was being blocked from doing so by the United States.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Washington was "blackmailing” and "persecuting” those that try to trade with Russia and was therefore compromising global food security.

The US has not directly targeted Russian agricultural exports, but sanctions on Russia’s shipping, insurance, logistics and payments infrastructure are thwarting Russia’s ability to export crucial fertilisers and chemicals, Moscow says. — Reuters