Zelensky: Ukraine ready for a ceasefire at sea, it is up to Russia to respond

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated today to leaders at the United Nations (UN) that Ukraine is ready for a ceasefire in the Black Sea, based on proposals from Egypt, India, and Turkey, and noted that it is now up to Russia to respond.

Zelensky spoke at the Ukrainian ‘Crimean Platform’ summit, held on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders at the UN General Assembly, ahead of the Security Council session on the war between Russia and Ukraine, which is now entering its fifth year.

Ukraine, which fears that Russia plans this winter to target electricity and heating production facilities with missiles and drones, is advocating for a ceasefire that would include attacks on energy infrastructure and maritime traffic in the Black Sea, according to the British agency Reuters.

Zelensky said that Egypt, India, and Turkey have presented options for restoring safe navigation for merchant ships in the Black Sea, where cargo transport has been almost completely halted due to heavy attacks by both sides on ships and port infrastructure.

“We are waiting for Russia’s response. Ukraine is ready to ensure safe navigation and food security in the Black Sea, if Russia is also ready to take real steps toward de-escalating tensions. We have to start somewhere,” Zelensky said.

Major wheat importers in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, who rely on the Black Sea region, are having difficulty securing supplies. Global wheat prices have risen sharply.

Zelensky, who is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly during the day, met on Tuesday with US President Donald Trump and said that they also discussed a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine regarding energy targets.

American Secretary of State Marco Rubio said today to reporters after a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in New York that both Russia and Ukraine have expressed interest in a limited ceasefire that would include wheat and energy.

The Kremlin has not publicly supported these proposals.

Ahead of the Lavrov and Rubio meeting, the Kremlin stated that there are no conditions for broader peace talks on Ukraine, but at the same time noted that it remains open to such discussions.