Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has stated that Russia is "not ready" for a ceasefire on grain ships in the Black Sea. According to Zelenskiy, Moscow wants any deal to also include halting attacks on Russian refineries and pipelines, while Ukraine is focused on protecting its own grain corridor. The two sides have accused each other of intensified attacks on vessels used for food exports during Russia's war in Ukraine. No immediate comment was given by the Kremlin on Zelenskiy's remarks.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia is "not ready" for a ceasefire on attacks on ships in the Black Sea carrying agricultural produce. Moscow wants to extend any deal to cover attacks on Russian refineries and pipelines, while Kyiv only agrees to halt strikes on grain corridor if Russia stops attacking Ukraine's energy infrastructure. This development comes after Reuters reported that Ukraine had offered to halt attacks on civilian targets in the Black Sea, but Russia dismissed the idea as "half-measures". Zelenskiy proposed a deal where Russian ships would transport food from Ukrainian ports without being attacked, but Moscow wants a quid pro quo for its own energy infrastructure.
Written for “Ukraine Russia Grain Dispute” on 2026-08-31,
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Leaning score -0.35 for article 2008 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-28
Zelenskiy says Russia is 'not ready' for ceasefire on grain ships
KYIV, Aug 24 - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia was "not ready" for a ceasefire on attacks on ships in the Black Sea carrying agricultural produce, as Moscow wants to extend any deal to cover attacks on Russian refineries and pipelines.
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Moscow → say → refineries
Moscow and Kyiv, major players in global agriculture markets, have accused each other of intensified attacks on vessels used for food exports during Russia's war in Ukraine.
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Moscow → accuse → Ukraine
Reuters reported this month that Ukraine had sent Russia an offer to halt attacks on civilian targets in the Black Sea.
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Ukraine → report → Sea
Russia dismissed the idea, saying it saw no grounds for "half-measures" that would offer a respite to the other side.
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that → dismiss → side
"I spoke with certain leaders.
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I → speak → leaders
I proposed that they use their vessels to transport food from our ports, and we would not attack their ships if they came to pick up agricultural exports from Russia," Zelenskiy told journalists in remarks cleared for release on Sunday.
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Zelenskiy → propose → Sunday
He said that Moscow, however, wanted a quid pro quo whereby it would halt attacks on Ukraine's grain corridor if Kyiv halted strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.
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Kyiv → say → infrastructure
"For (Russia), it’s not about the grain.
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it → ’ → grain
It’s exclusively about their energy sector, but the two are not comparable," Zelenskiy said.
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Zelenskiy → ’ → sector
Any deal to stop Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil refineries and fuel transportation would need to include a reciprocal cessation of attacks on Ukraine's energy system, he said.
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he → stop → system
Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022, did not immediately comment on Zelenskiy's remarks.
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which → invade → remarks
The Kremlin said on Monday that measures were being taken to minimise the impact of Ukraine's strikes on Russian grain exports.
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measures → say → exports
Ukraine has escalated its strikes on Russian economic targets in recent weeks, including on grain export terminals.
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Ukraine → escalate → terminals
Last winter, the harshest of the war, millions of Ukrainians were often left without power and heating as Russia focused its attacks on Ukraine's electricity network, leaving many apprehensive about the months ahead. REUTERS
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Russia → leave → months
