Ukraine is engaged in diplomatic discussions with Turkey, Egypt and India regarding the potential restoration of civil navigation in the Black Sea to facilitate vital agricultural exports, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The country’s Black Sea ports serve as the primary route for Ukrainian food shipments, holding a capacity of up to 40 million tons of grain within a single marketing season. However, these shipments have been largely halted since August amid persistent Russian air attacks targeting local port infrastructure and commercial vessels.
“We cannot manage this volume of shipments by rail,” Zelenskyy said during an interview in Kyiv on October 18, emphasizing the irreplaceable role of maritime routes for the nation’s agricultural sector.
Under the proposed framework discussed with international partners, Turkey, Egypt and India have suggested establishing safe navigation corridors for vessels operating under their respective flags. These ships would enter both Ukrainian and Russian ports to transport food supplies under mutual understandings.
“One ship heading to our port, and the other to Russian and we accept agreements not to strike either of these vessels,” Zelenskyy explained. Despite regular diplomatic mediation and calls from Turkish, Indian and Egyptian intermediaries, Russia currently opposes the proposed arrangement.
In addition to maritime initiatives, Kyiv has formally requested that the European Union renew its program of “solidarity lanes.” Established at the onset of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, these land and river routes allowed Ukraine to export grain through European railways and ports.
“We are asking the EU to reinstate the ‘solidarity lanes’ to facilitate grain exports,” Zelenskyy said. “Everyone needs this grain.”
Ukraine has faced intensified strikes on its civilian port infrastructure following military actions last summer targeting the Russian shadow fleet, which primarily transports sanctioned oil and fuel products. According to figures from Ukraine’s Agriculture Ministry, current security and logistical constraints have reduced the country’s export capacity to just 38% of its regular volumes.
