Ukraine Proposes Black Sea Truce as Grain Exports Plummet; Russia Rejects

On August 13, Ukraine transmitted a proposal through an unnamed third country asking Russia to jointly suspend attacks on civilian ships and port infrastructure in the Black Sea. Russia’s Foreign Ministry responded on August 14, rejecting the idea and stating there were no grounds for “half-measures” that would give Kyiv a temporary respite.

Ukraine offers Russia halt to Black Sea civilian target attacks – Cyprus Inform

Since July, Ukraine’s drone campaign has struck roughly 220 vessels in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, while Russian forces have intensified strikes on Ukraine’s southern ports, halting commercial shipping from Odesa. The Black Sea grain corridor, which operated from July 2022 to July 2023 under a Turkey-UN deal, collapsed after Russia withdrew, citing Western sanctions on its agricultural sector.

Ukraine Proposes Black Sea Truce To Russia As Attacks On Ports And Vessels Raise Global Food Supply Concerns Ukraine offers Russia truce in Black Sea region The GuardianUkraine offers Russia halt to Black Sea civilian target attacks – Cyprus Inform Kyiv Independent

On July 31, U.S. Vice President JD Vance asked President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to curb attacks on oil tankers carrying Kazakh crude through Novorossiysk, arguing the strikes harmed U.S. companies and destabilised oil prices. Kyiv paused those specific attacks but continued broader operations against Russian maritime targets.

Ukraine Proposes Black Sea Truce to Russia After Crippling Port Attacks

• Grain exports fell 75 % YoY in the first two weeks of August; overall Ukrainian grain shipments are down 76 % YoY for the month.

Reuters

• About 90 % of Ukraine’s wheat, corn and sunflower seed exports travel via the Black Sea.

Reuters

• Ukraine supplies ? 6 % of world wheat and ? 11 % of world corn — Denys Marchuk, deputy head of the UAC.

Reuters

• Farmer Serhiy Rybalko reports that “everything has just stopped. Finances have ground to a halt. Revenue streams have dried up. There are no exports.”

Reuters

• Storage shortfalls could reach 11 million t, while the current harvest is projected at ? 60 million t.

Ukraine Proposes Black Sea Truce to Russia After Crippling Port Attacks

“We do not see any prerequisites for improving the situation, and, consequently, grounds for half-measures that only give the Kyiv regime a temporary respite,” — Maria Zakharova, foreign ministry spokeswoman.

Moscow Times

President Zelenskyy described Ukraine’s recent strike on Novorossiysk as “entirely justified” and a response to Russia’s war, asserting that Ukrainian forces had taken out multiple warships and grain terminals.

Ukraine Offers Russia Black Sea Truce After Novorossiysk Strike Ukraine Proposes Black Sea Truce to Russia After Crippling Port Attacks The GuardianAudacy NewsUkraine Proposes Mutual Halt to Black Sea Attacks

Ukraine asserts the truce proposal was sent via a third party on August 13 and is awaiting a Russian response. Russian officials maintain that no formal proposal has been received, despite Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s claim on August 8 that Turkey relayed the initiative to both sides. The discrepancy leaves the status of the proposal unresolved.

United24 Media

• July 31 – JD Vance urges Ukraine to halt attacks on Kazakh oil tankers.

Ukraine Proposes Black Sea Truce to Russia After Crippling Port Attacks

• August 8 – Turkey’s Hakan Fidan says Ankara has conveyed a moratorium proposal to both sides.

United24 Media

• August 12 – Ukraine conducts a coordinated strike on Novorossiysk, disabling three grain terminals.

Ukraine Proposes Black Sea Truce to Russia After Crippling Port Attacks

• August 13 – Ukraine sends a mutual cease-fire offer via a third party.

Ukraine offers Russia halt to Black Sea civilian target attacks – Cyprus Inform

• August 14 – Maria Zakharova publicly rejects the cease-fire idea.

Moscow Times