WASHINGTON, June 17 (TASS) - Accusations that Russia is allegedly stealing Ukrainian grain are groundless and the Russian side resolutely rejects them, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said.

"As for the alleged cases of grain stealing, we categorically reject such baseless accusations," he wrote in an article published in The National Interest magazine on Thursday. The envoy emphasized that Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary General, clearly stated on June 7 that the UN "does not have any evidence of such crimes."

Additionally, the diplomat noted that Russia is ready to guarantee the safety of vessels carrying grain from the ports controlled by Ukraine which was confirmed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in early June.

The ambassador stressed that Russia’s authorities are exerting every effort to ensure food security. "We are undertaking the necessary efforts in this regard - assisting farmers in the liberated territories, restoring infrastructure, supplying seeds. At the same time, Russian servicemen are engaged in humanitarian demining of farmland. More than 12,000 explosives on 200 hectares of fields have been deactivated," he wrote.

"Russia has become a target for accusations that have nothing to do with reality. Our country is being imputed with trying to take steps aimed at deliberately degrading global food security, preventing Ukrainian agricultural exports by sea, and blocking the sowing campaign in that country. It’s time to put an end to these speculations," the envoy concluded.