Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Kyiv remains ready for a bilateral energy ceasefire with Russia after holding talks with the United States in New York City.
Zelenskyy, who was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly Session, met with US President Donald Trump and said the talks were positive and productive.
In a social media post on X, Zelenskyy said both the US and Ukraine wanted to end the war before end of this year and also discussed potential de-escalatory steps that can open up the way to diplomacy.
Mr. Zelenskyy spoke at Ukraine’s Crimean Platform summit on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly gathering of world leaders and ahead of a Security Council meeting on Russia’s war in Ukraine, which is now in its fifth year.
Ukraine, which fears that Russia plans to pound power and heating facilities with missiles and drones this winter, has been pressing for ceasefires covering attacks on energy infrastructure and shipping in the Black Sea.
Mr. Zelenskyy said Egypt, India and Turkey had outlined options to restore safe navigation for merchant shipping in the Black Sea, where cargo movements are at a near standstill due to heavy attacks on ships and port infrastructure by both sides.
“We are waiting for Russia’s response. Ukraine is ready … to ensure safe shipping and food security in the Black Sea if Russia is ready to take real steps towards de-escalation too. We have to start somewhere,” he said.
Top wheat importers in Asia, West Asia and Africa that count on the Black Sea region for wheat have been finding it hard to secure supplies. Global wheat prices have soared.