Ukraine Offers Truce to Russia in Black Sea Attacks
Ukraine has proposed a truce to Russia in attacks on civilian targets in the Black Sea, according to Reuters. The proposal was conveyed through a third party and is still awaiting a response from Moscow.
The offer comes as Ukraine's defenders have been successful in striking Russian targets, including ships from the 'shadow fleet', which has led to an intensification of attacks on ports in Odesa Oblast and civilian vessels traveling through Ukraine's maritime corridor. This has resulted in an export blockade, affecting Ukraine's agricultural industry, with grain exports falling 76% since the beginning of August compared to the same period last year.
Russian deputy foreign minister Alexander Grushko stated that Moscow had not received any official proposal for a Black Sea ceasefire, saying 'Recently, we have heard many calls for various kinds of moratoriums and truces. These ideas are being voiced through various channels, but we are receiving no formalized proposals.'
The price of BL2U6 September wheat futures on the Euronext exchange declined after the Reuters report, giving up its earlier sharp gains.