Zelenskyy Explained How Partners Hope to Reopen the Black Sea

Ukraine has proposed a “reciprocal” ceasefire in the Black Sea to ensure the safe transport of goods, particularly agricultural products. Egypt, India, Turkey, and other partner countries have joined the discussions on restoring safe navigation.

 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy made this statement during an online briefing with journalists.

According to the head of state, this is not a single, consolidated initiative involving several countries. Zelenskyy discussed the situation separately with the leaders of Egypt, India, and Turkey. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also maintained contact with representatives of these countries.

The president noted that foreign partners themselves are interested in restoring safe navigation in the Black Sea. At the same time, reopening the sea lanes is also in Ukraine’s interest. “This is a request these countries have made to us, and to be honest, it is our request as well—to reopen the Black Sea,” Zelenskyy explained.

According to him, the partners shared their own proposals with Ukraine regarding a possible format for the agreements. In response, Kyiv proposed implementing a “mirror” ceasefire in the Black Sea.

Trust the facts—add “Glavkom” to your trusted sources on Google
. Add now. “There were
proposals from the countries; we said, ‘Let’s have a mirror ceasefire in the Black Sea so that goods—especially those from the agricultural sector—can be delivered without any problems to the relevant countries,’” the president said.

Zelenskyy reported that Ukraine had received a positive response from its partners to its proposal. Some countries also sent Kyiv their own written proposals on how such a mechanism should function.

According to the president, he has already reviewed the options proposed by the partners and considers them fair. The next step was to be contacts between these countries and Russia. Zelenskyy explained that following negotiations with Ukraine, the partners were to discuss possible agreements with the Russian side either separately or in parallel.

“We are currently awaiting a response from these countries, which were supposed to contact the Russian side either after us or in parallel with us. So far, we have not received a response,” the president concluded.

Read:

Trump Decided on Patriot Missile Production in Ukraine — Zelenskyy

The U.S. has approved the transfer of Patriot missiles from Germany to Ukraine.

To ensure Ukraine’s energy system gets through this winter without problems, we need 100–120 Patriot missiles each month to protect it from Russian ballistic missiles.