Ukraine Proposes Black Sea Truce to Restore Grain Exports

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has proposed a deal to Russia, transmitted via a third party, to halt mutual attacks on civilian ships in the Black Sea. The proposal aims to reopen a critical grain corridor after Russian strikes on southern ports and a de facto blockade caused Ukrainian grain exports to drop 76 percent year-on-year in August.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed that a moratorium proposal was conveyed to both nations. However, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko stated that Moscow has received no formal proposal. The diplomatic overture follows a period of escalating maritime conflict; Ukrainian drones have hit nearly 220 Russian vessels since July, forcing Russia to suspend shipping through a canal connecting the Caspian Sea to the Sea of Azov.

The proposal also follows pressure from the United States. In a July 31 phone call, U.S. Vice President JD Vance urged President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop strikes on tankers carrying Kazakh oil from Novorossiysk to prevent the destabilization of oil prices and avoid harming U.S. companies.