India has joined the ceasefire talks in the Black Sea
India has, for the first time, proposed its own approach to resolving the situation in the Black Sea. According to Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga, Ukraine currently has four proposals from international partners—India, Turkey, Egypt, and the United States. Kyiv is ready for an energy and Black Sea ceasefire, but wants these two tracks to be linked.
Ukraine has received four proposals regarding a possible ceasefire concerning energy and shipping in the Black Sea. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga announced this during a closed-door meeting with journalists. According to him, India, Turkey, Egypt, and the United States have put forward their own proposals. Sibiga described India’s proposal as the most comprehensive. He noted that this is the first time New Delhi has offered to play a specific role in this process.
“We have four proposals. The most comprehensive is India’s proposal. For the first time, India has offered to play a role. We have outlined our vision, based on our logic and our understanding of how all of this should unfold. We are ready for an energy and Black Sea truce, but only in this combination: energy and a truce in the Black Sea,” Sibiga said.
What Turkey and Egypt Are Proposing
There is also separate discussion of a food truce in the Black Sea. Turkey and Egypt have made such proposals to Ukraine. The idea is to ensure safe navigation and restore the ability to export grain through the Black Sea. This is particularly important for Egypt, as a significant portion of the grain for its domestic needs comes from Ukraine.
“We have two more proposals; they are similar in substance. They concern grain—that is, a food truce in the Black Sea. The first such proposal was made by Turkey. The second, similar one, came from Egypt, which is one-third dependent on Ukrainian grain and relies heavily on Russian grain. Therefore, it is critically important for them to resolve this issue,” the foreign minister emphasized.
This is not the first time Turkey has been involved in finding a solution regarding the safety of shipping. Previously, Ankara worked with other parties on the Black Sea Grain Agreement. Currently, the Turkish and Egyptian sides are seeking a new framework that would allow for at least a partial resumption of free navigation and grain exports.
What the U.S. Is Proposing
The fourth proposal came from the United States. It concerns an energy ceasefire. According to Sibiga, this issue was discussed during a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Ukraine, however, advocates for a broader framework. It is not just about ceasing attacks on individual energy facilities, but about a complete energy ceasefire. It should cover all energy facilities, as well as port infrastructure. “And there is a fourth proposal—from the U.S.—regarding an energy ceasefire, which was discussed during the meeting between Presidents Zelenskyy and Trump. We are looking for proposals,” Sibiga added. According to him, Ukraine is ready for such a ceasefire but wants it to be accompanied by an agreement to halt attacks in the Black Sea.
Ukraine is ready to consider other formats as well
Sybiga also spoke about a possible format for a general ceasefire. He said Ukraine is ready to discuss various options, including an unconditional ceasefire along the current line of contact. These proposals, the minister said, have already been conveyed to the U.S. side. The U.S. is also working to identify a possible format. At the same time, there is currently no agreement on such a ceasefire. The discussion centers specifically on proposals and negotiations regarding possible terms.
Regarding the Black Sea, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously reported that Egypt, India, and Turkey had offered their own proposals to unblock shipping. At that time, he noted that Kyiv was awaiting Russia’s response.
Thus, several issues are currently under discussion: the safety of shipping, the export of Ukrainian grain, and the cessation of attacks on energy and port infrastructure. According to Sibiga, Ukraine is ready to work on these approaches but advocates combining them. The minister made this remark during a closed-door meeting with journalists.
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