{
  "id": 9150201,
  "title": "Ukraine open to grain truce with Russia, deputy PM says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/ukraine-open-to-grain-truce-with-russia-deputy-pm-says",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-22T13:12:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Politico EU",
    "slug": "politico-eu",
    "url": "https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-open-to-grain-truce-with-russia-deputy-pm-vsevolod-chentsov-says/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Vsevolod Chentsov, disclosed during a POLITICO event that Kyiv is open to a grain truce with Russia. Chentsov stated, \"It's a good moment now to sit and talk, and to find a solution.\" When asked about a truce, which would involve Russia and Ukraine halting military actions on ships carrying agricultural cargo, ports, and grain storage facilities in the Black Sea, Chentsov replied, \"Why not? We need to start somewhere, and step by step, eventually we can discuss something more comprehensive.\"\n\nChentsov explained that Russia’s attacks on Black Sea infrastructure and vessels have hindered Ukraine’s ability to export grain since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. He emphasized, \"They [Russia] try to lock our grain exports in the Black Sea, but we are doing the same.\" Chentsov further noted that the situation could worsen for Russian people, urging Russia to reconsider its stance.\n\nEarlier this summer, an escalation in hostilities in the Black Sea saw both Russia and Ukraine attacking each other's ships and ports, disrupting vital grain exports and raising concerns about the conflict exacerbating global food prices. The body of water has become increasingly dangerous for commercial shipping, with more crew fatalities in July than the entire pre-war period. Prior to Russia's invasion, Ukraine was responsible for 15% of the world's corn exports, 10% of wheat, 15-20% of barley, and 50% of sunflower oil.\n\nWith Ukraine currently in its harvest season, Russia's attacks have reduced grain exports by half compared to the previous year. This decline has led to a surge in global food prices. There are also worries that by October, Ukraine may exhaust its storage capacity, potentially resulting in over 9 million tonnes of grain rotting while farmers lack the resources to plant next year's crops.",
  "summary": "Vsevolod Chentsov tells POLITICO \"now is a good moment to sit and talk.\"",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}