Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Egypt, India and Turkey have proposed ways to restore Black Sea trade.
Zelensky spoke at the Sixth Summit of the International Crimea Platform in New York. He said the three countries had submitted proposals to deal with the disruption to shipping.
“Egypt, India and Turkey have already put forth options for us, and they are on paper,” Zelensky said.
“We have discussed this with our partners, many of whom have already joined the work to protect food security and safe navigation in the Black Sea,” he said.
Zelensky said Ukraine was ready to support steps that could improve security in the region. He said Ukraine was waiting for Russia’s response.
“Today, people in many countries are paying more out of their own pockets just to live, while others are being forced to fight for their lives, simply because one man decided he could redraw borders,” he said.
“Now we are once again working to secure the food corridor in the Black Sea and the export of other goods the global market really needs,” Zelensky added.
He thanked Egypt, Turkey, the United States and European countries for helping protect food security. He also thanked other partners for helping keep goods moving.
The Black Sea has become a key battleground in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Attacks on ports, cargo ships and shipping infrastructure have cut the movement of grain and other goods.
After Russia’s invasion, Ukraine’s sea exports were badly disrupted and farm shipments were left stranded.
In July 2022, Turkey and the United Nations brokered a deal to restart grain exports by sea. The deal created a safe shipping corridor. Russia pulled out of the deal in July 2023.
Attacks on shipping and port facilities have since made trade harder. A Reuters report in July 2026 said several shipping firms stopped calling at Ukrainian ports. The firms cited heavier military strikes.
Marine insurance costs also rose as the risks to ships grew, the report said.
Both Ukraine and Russia are major grain exporters. The disruption hits a main supply route for global farm markets, Business Insider Africa reported.
Source: this article is based on reporting by africa.businessinsider.com. Image: africa.businessinsider.com. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Business desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Anelisa Nkuna covers business and money news for Tzaneen Voice. Anelisa reports on the rand, fuel prices, interest rates, jobs, Eskom, Transnet, farming and company results. The aim is simple: explain what the numbers mean for household budgets, small businesses and workers in South Africa.