Zelenskiy Tells UN Ukraine Ready for Black Sea Maritime Truce
Zelenskiy told the UN that Ukraine is ready for a Black Sea maritime truce based on proposals from Egypt, India and Turkey, saying the next move is Russia's.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told world leaders at the United Nations on Wednesday that Ukraine is prepared to accept a maritime truce in the Black Sea, built on proposals put forward by Egypt, India and Turkey, and said the decision now rests with Moscow.
Speaking at Ukraine's Crimean Platform summit, held on the margins of the annual UN General Assembly, Zelenskiy said the three countries had set out options for restoring safe navigation for merchant shipping. He added that Ukraine was ready to guarantee safe shipping and food security in the Black Sea if Russia also takes genuine steps toward de-escalation. "We have to start somewhere," he said.
The appeal comes as the war enters its fifth year. Cargo traffic in the Black Sea has slowed to a near standstill amid heavy attacks on vessels and port infrastructure by both sides, and Ukraine fears Russia will target power and heating facilities with missiles and drones in the coming winter. Kyiv has been pushing for ceasefires covering strikes on energy infrastructure and shipping.
The disruption has been felt far beyond the region. Major wheat importers across Asia, the Middle East and Africa that depend on Black Sea supplies have struggled to secure cargoes, and global wheat prices have climbed.
Zelenskiy, who was due to address the General Assembly later on Wednesday, met US President Donald Trump a day earlier and said the two had also discussed a ceasefire covering energy-related targets. After meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that both Russia and Ukraine had shown interest in a limited ceasefire involving grain and energy.
The Kremlin has not publicly endorsed the proposals. Ahead of the Lavrov-Rubio talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there were no prerequisites for moving to a broader peace negotiating track, while insisting Russia remained open to such talks. Zelenskiy said on Tuesday that he would be willing to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in a trilateral format alongside Trump.