Reuters: Ukraine offers Russia mutual halt to attacks on civilian targets in Black Sea

Ukraine has offered Russia a mutual halt to attacks on civilian targets in the Black Sea, Reuters reported, citing a source familiar with the negotiations.

According to the source, Kyiv conveyed the proposal to Moscow through a third party and is now awaiting a response.

The Kremlin and Russia’s Foreign Ministry did not comment on the Reuters report about the Ukrainian proposal.

At the same time, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said Moscow had not received any official proposals for a ceasefire in the Black Sea.

“Recently, we have heard many calls for various kinds of moratoriums and ceasefires. These ideas come through different channels, but we have not received any official proposals,” Russia’s state-run TASS news agency quoted him as saying.

Reuters noted that following reports about the Ukrainian initiative, the rise in wheat prices on the Euronext exchange slowed after prices reached a two-week high.

Due to the de facto blockade of Black Sea ports, Ukraine’s grain exports have already fallen by 76% year-on-year in August, while agricultural sector representatives have warned of serious economic consequences if the situation does not change.