Kyiv, Aug. 24 (SANA) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia was “not ready” to halt attacks on ships carrying agricultural products in the Black Sea, as Moscow sought to broaden any agreement to include Russian refineries and pipelines.
Reuters reported Sunday that Ukraine proposed halting attacks on civilian targets in the Black Sea, but Russia rejected the proposal, saying it saw no reason to accept “partial measures” that would give the other side a respite.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine proposed that other countries use their vessels to transport food from Ukrainian ports, pledging not to attack those ships if they also collected Russian agricultural exports.
He said Moscow wanted to halt attacks on Ukraine’s grain corridor in exchange for Kyiv suspending strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. Zelenskyy said any such agreement must include a reciprocal halt to attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities.
Russia did not immediately comment on his remarks. The Kremlin said measures were being considered to limit the impact of Ukrainian strikes on Russian grain exports.
Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian economic targets in recent weeks, including grain export terminals, while both countries have accused each other of escalating attacks on vessels used for food exports.
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