ATLANTA - The United States is reviewing proposals from Turkey and India for a limited ceasefire in the Black Sea aimed at protecting grain and energy shipments, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
No agreement has been reached, and Russia has not indicated that it is prepared to join the initiative, according to officials involved in the discussions.
Speaking after a meeting of Group of 20 foreign ministers in Atlanta, Rubio said Washington had seen renewed international interest in countries serving as facilitators or guarantors of a possible arrangement.
The proposal would not end Russia’s war in Ukraine. Instead, it would seek to reduce threats to commercial shipping, food supplies and energy security in the Black Sea.
Turkey and India Offer Proposals
Rubio said the United States was examining a Turkish proposal received in recent weeks. India has also expressed interest in offering ideas. He cautioned that there was growing interest in such a deal, but not yet momentum or any basis for estimating its chances of success.
Turkey previously helped broker the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allowed Ukrainian agricultural exports to move through the region before the arrangement collapsed.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand told Reuters that she had discussed a limited Black Sea ceasefire with representatives of Ukraine and India. She said the talks also included a possible moratorium on attacks against Ukraine’s electrical infrastructure before winter.
Anand said countries affected by disrupted trade, including India and Egypt, wanted ships and crews protected. Ukraine was engaged in the discussions, while Russia had not shown that it was ready to proceed, she said.
No Broader Peace Deal in Sight
Rubio said a limited maritime agreement could reduce some of the war’s effects on vulnerable countries without resolving the wider conflict. He added that a broader negotiated settlement was not on the immediate horizon.
The two-day G20 foreign ministers’ meeting ended without a joint statement, underscoring continuing divisions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and other international issues.
Sources: Vesti Baku; Reuters; Rubio press availability transcript.