Ukraine signals willingness to seek compromise with Russia on grain, energy

Ukraine is prepared to seek compromises with Russia on what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as some of the most pressing issues affecting both countries, particularly grain exports and energy, as concerns grow over the security of Black Sea shipping.

“Grain and energy are sensitive issues for Ukraine and Russia. And they are sensitive issues for the entire world,” Zelenskyy said, pointing to the importance of food and energy supplies for countries including India, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and others across Asia, Caliber.Az reports per Ukrainian media.

“We are ready to seek a compromise with the Russian Federation,” he added.

Moscow, however, has rejected the possibility of reviving the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a UN- and Turkish-brokered agreement that previously allowed Ukraine to export agricultural products through the Black Sea despite the war.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described a return to the initiative as unrealistic, saying Moscow had rejected a Ukrainian proposal for a moratorium on attacks against commercial vessels in the Black Sea.

“A return to the Black Sea Grain Initiative is unacceptable,” Lavrov said. He argued that such a moratorium would be difficult to enforce and called efforts to revive the proposal “completely unacceptable and completely unrealistic.”

Earlier, Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotsky warned that the closure of Black Sea shipping routes could prevent the country from exporting around 30 million metric tons of grain and oilseeds.

He estimated that the resulting decline in agricultural exports could cause losses of more than $10 billion, underscoring the broader economic and food-security implications of continued disruption to Black Sea trade.

By Sabina Mammadli