India, Egypt and Turkey are exploring maritime truce options aimed at restoring safe commercial shipping in the Black Sea, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, indicating Kyiv’s readiness to support a truce if Russia responds positively.
Speaking at the Sixth Summit of the International Crimea Platform, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Zelenskyy said India, Egypt and Turkey had already put forward their proposals in writing. “A great many countries have already joined efforts to safeguard food security and ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea. Egypt, India and Turkey have already put forward their proposals to us, and these are on paper. We agree with the approach that can ensure security, and we are now awaiting Russia’s response,” he said.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready to do its part to ensure safe navigation and food security in the Black Sea, provided that Russia also takes concrete steps towards de-escalation. “We have to start somewhere, and Russia must start by showing respect for others. And a fundamental respect for the world begins with simple things: food security, energy security and the right of people to live without fear,” he said.
For now, Zelenskyy’s announcement establishes that written options involving India are under consideration, while the reciprocal commitments needed to turn them into safe passage remain unresolved, with the two sides likely to seek different concessions in return for protecting maritime trade.
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has been actively engaging with both Ukraine and Russia over the course of the conflict, with disruptions to Black Sea shipping having significantly impacted global grain and commodity supplies, raising concerns among multiple countries reliant on the region’s exports.
