Ukraine offers Russia halt to Black Sea civilian target attacks

Kyiv, Ukraine. Ukraine has sent Russia an offer proposing that both countries halt attacks on civilian targets in the Black Sea, according to a source familiar with the matter. The proposal was conveyed through a third party, and Kyiv was awaiting a response.

Proposal and Russian response

Russia did not immediately comment publicly on the offer.

Before the Reuters report, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said Moscow had received no formal proposal for a Black Sea ceasefire.

“Recently, we have been hearing many calls for various kinds of moratoriums and truces. These ideas are being put forward through various channels, but we have not received any formal proposals,” Grushko said, according to Russia’s state news agency TASS.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday that a proposal had been conveyed to Russia and Ukraine for both countries to declare a moratorium on attacks in the Black Sea.

Food supply and export concerns

Russia and Ukraine, both major players in the global agricultural market, have accused each other of intensifying attacks on vessels used for agricultural exports.

Kyiv has turned to alternative shipping routes after many shipowners stopped calling at ports in Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, which are key for grain exports, due to concerns over Russian strikes on dozens of foreign-flagged ships and port infrastructure.

Russia’s de facto blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports in the Odesa region has caused Ukrainian grain exports to fall 76% year on year so far in August. The agricultural sector has warned of major consequences for the economy if the situation continues.

Euronext September wheat BL2U6 fell after earlier sharp gains following the Reuters report on Ukraine’s offer.