Ukraine offers Russia halt to attacks on civilian targets in the Black Sea
Kiev says it relayed a proposal via a third party for a moratorium on mutual strikes; Ankara confirms the plan was delivered as grain exports have plunged.
Ukraine has offered Russia, through an intermediary, that both sides stop attacking civilian targets in the Black Sea, officials familiar with the situation told Western media, and Kiev is now waiting for Moscow’s reply.
Proposal transmitted via a third party
The proposal was passed from Kyiv to Moscow by a third party, sources said, and Ukrainian authorities have not yet received an answer. Turkish officials have also signalled involvement in relaying the idea.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday that a proposal had been delivered to both Russia and Ukraine suggesting the two countries declare a moratorium on mutual attacks in the Black Sea.
Both Russia and Ukraine are major global exporters of agricultural products and in recent weeks each side has accused the other of increasingly targeting vessels used to transport grain and other produce.
Analysts and industry representatives warn that the consequences for Ukraine’s economy and for global food supplies would be severe if attacks and the effective blockade continue. Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian Black Sea ports in the Odesa region led to a 76 percent year-on-year fall in wheat exports in August.
Diplomats are likely to press for a quick response because the collapse of seaborne shipments from Ukraine has already strained markets; however, officials did not give a timetable for when Moscow might reply to the offer.
Photo: press material from the event
