Ukraine discusses broader Black Sea ceasefire - for grain, energy and metallurgy
Ukraine is discussing the possibility of an agreement to stop attacks in the Black Sea, which may cover not only the transportation of grain and other agricultural products, but also energy and metallurgical cargoes. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a conversation with journalists in New York.
According to him, among possible steps towards de-escalation, an energy ceasefire and a separate agreement regarding the sea are being discussed. In the first case, Ukraine is ready to mutually stop strikes on energy infrastructure.
The second option was initially viewed as a "grain ceasefire", but Kyiv sees an opportunity to make it broader.
"At sea there can be not only grain, not only agricultural products, there can be energy, there can be metallurgy", - Zelenskyy explained.
Thus, a potential agreement could cover the safety of a much larger part of maritime trade, not just Ukrainian food exports. At the moment, however, these are options that are being discussed; Zelenskyy did not report any agreement reached with Russia.
The President noted that not only Ukraine, Russia and the United States are interested in stable shipping. According to him, he discussed possible agreements with the leaders of Egypt, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and India - countries for which the stability of sea routes and the supply of goods are important.
Separately, on September 24, Zelenskyy discussed security in the Black Sea with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The parties talked about restoring the full operation of the Ukrainian maritime export corridor. The Presidential Office emphasized that countries on different continents depend on Ukrainian food exports.
Zelenskyy stated that for such a scenario to be implemented, Russia must stop strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure. For its part, Ukraine is ready to act in a mirror-like manner and stop relevant long-range strikes. The President voiced a similar principle regarding the energy ceasefire.
Based on materials: Новини.LIVE, Офіс президента України, Укрінформ
