Ukraine offers Black Sea shipping truce; Russia yet to respond : Report

Ukraine proposes temporary halt to Black Sea civilian attacks as grain trade hit, report (File photo) Ukraine has proposed a temporary halt to attacks on civilian targets in the Black Sea as a surge in strikes on ships and ports disrupts trade and raises concerns about global food supplies, according to a source familiar with the matter cited by Reuters.The proposal was conveyed to Moscow through a third party, and Kyiv is still waiting for Russia to respond, the source said.The development comes as Russia and Ukraine, both major players in global agricultural markets, accuse each other of escalating attacks on vessels and port infrastructure involved in exports.Ukraine has increasingly relied on alternative shipping arrangements after several shipowners stopped calling at ports in the Odesa region in late July following Russian attacks on vessels. Odesa is a key hub for Ukraine's grain exports.Russia has also faced disruption to its own Black Sea trade. Moscow temporarily halted operations at all three terminals at the Novorossiysk port for two days following a Ukrainian attack, according to Reuters. The disruption is expected to put further pressure on Russia's grain exports.Neit...