Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said such measures would only give Ukraine a “breather.” Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan proposed on August 9 that Russia and Ukraine stop attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea.
Zakharova claimed Moscow had not received an official request from Ankara with concrete conditions. Turkey is currently waiting for responses from both sides. Ukraine has not yet officially commented on the proposal.
Russia also refuses to return to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which was in effect in 2022–2023 under the mediation of Turkey and the UN. Moscow accuses the West of failing to honor the agreements made at that time.
Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine have intensified their attacks in the Black Sea in recent weeks. According to the Ukrainian port authority, Russia has been attacking port infrastructure and civilian ships almost daily for over a month. Ukrainian grain exports fell by 76 percent in August compared to the previous year.
Source: www.bbc.com
