Ukraine seeks Black Sea truce as Russian strikes disrupt grain shipping

Ukraine has proposed to Russia that both nations cease attacks on civilian targets in the Black Sea, according to a Reuters source cited on August 13. This comes as Russia escalates strikes on grain ships and port infrastructure across the Black Sea, which could significantly impact global food prices this year, according to the United Nations.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko stated that Moscow has not received any official proposal for a Black Sea ceasefire. Following the publication of Reuters' report, September wheat futures on Euronext dropped, erasing earlier gains. On August 8, Türkiye's foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, claimed that his country had proposed a moratorium on attacks in the Black Sea to both Russia and Ukraine.

Russian forces intensified attacks on Ukraine's port infrastructure and civilian shipping in July, resulting in the death of 10 people in an attack on the Golden Leo, while strikes on the Gas Lisbon tanker and the Golden Rose bulk carrier forced shipowners to halt calls at Odesa ports. The United Nations warned on July 27 that Russia's renewed attacks on Black Sea ports and merchant ships could jeopardize global food security, with wheat prices surging 20% since the beginning of the month and reaching their highest level since March 2024.

Russia attacked a civilian vessel the following day. A drone also hit a civilian tugboat in the Black Sea on August 3. Since early July, Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces have been targeting Russian transport ships and shadow-fleet vessels daily as part of a blockade operation against Russian-occupied Crimea. Ukraine recorded 35 Russian attacks on ships in port, 22 attacks on vessels at sea, and 67 strikes on port infrastructure in July.

These actions could slash Ukrainian agricultural exports by more than half in the 2026-2027 marketing year, according to Bloomberg.