Ukraine ‘offering Russia deal to halt attacks on civilian ships in Black Sea’

Key Points:

• Ukraine has proposed a mutual ceasefire on attacks against civilian ships in the Black Sea to reopen a vital grain export corridor, with the offer made through a third party and awaiting a response from Russia.
• Since July, Ukraine has effectively blocked commercial Russian shipping in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, targeting nearly 220 vessels with drones, which has disrupted Russian shipping routes including the Caspian Sea connection.
• Russia has intensified attacks on Ukraine’s southern ports, severely impacting Ukraine’s agricultural exports, with recent strikes killing port workers and sailors, including victims from Syria and India.
• The Ukrainian proposal aims to resume crucial grain shipments amid the harvest season and follows US Vice-President JD Vance’s reported request for Ukraine to halt some attacks on Russian oil tankers, a move tied to sensitive US-Ukraine negotiations.
• Despite some restraint on oil tanker attacks, Ukraine continues to target Russian naval assets and grain terminals in Novorossiysk, with recent combined attacks reportedly damaging Russian warships and infrastructure, while Russia has yet to agree to a new maritime ceasefire similar to the expired Black Sea grain initiative.