“Ukraine has sent russia a proposal for a mutual cessation of attacks on civilian targets in the Black Sea, a source said, as both countries warn of threats to global food supplies following weeks of intense strikes on vessels and ports”, - Reuters reported on August 13.
The proposal to suspend attacks was conveyed by Kyiv through a third party, and Ukraine is still awaiting a response, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters.
The publication writes that “both russia and Ukraine, which are key players in the global agricultural market, accuse each other of intensifying attacks on vessels used to export agricultural products”.
Kyiv was forced to switch to alternative delivery routes after many shipowners stopped calling at ports in the southern Odesa olast — the main grain export hub — amid fears of russian strikes on dozens of foreign-flagged vessels and port infrastructure.
russia did not immediately comment publicly on the matter. Before the report appeared, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said that moscow had not received an official proposal for a ceasefire in the Black Sea.
“Recently, we have been hearing many calls for various types of moratoriums and truces. These ideas are being put forward through various channels, but we have not received any official proposals”, - he said, according to the russian state news agency TASS.
Wheat futures on the Euronext exchange for September delivery (BL2U6) fell, giving up some of their earlier sharp gains after Reuters reported on Ukraine’s proposal.
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.