Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Russia rejects Black Sea truce, rules out grain deal revival
Russia and Ukraine are fighting, and their fighting has now reached the Black Sea.
The Black Sea is where big ships carry grain, which is food for people all over the world.
Lately, both Russia and Ukraine have been attacking ships in that sea.
This is worrying because grain prices are going up and countries may struggle to get food.
Turkey tried to help by asking both sides to stop attacking ships for a while.
Russia said no, and its spokesperson said Ukraine was doing 'brazen acts of terrorism.'
Russia said it saw no reason to pause and give Ukraine a break.
Russia also said it never received Turkey's formal offer.
Russia will also not restart the old grain deal that Turkey helped create in 2022.
Without an agreement, nobody knows when the sea will be safe for ships again.
Russia rejected a temporary ceasefire in the Black Sea, calling it 'half-measures' with no basis.
Turkey said it presented proposals to both Moscow and Kyiv for a halt to military operations, but Russia said it received no formal proposal.
Both Russia and Ukraine have intensified attacks on commercial shipping in recent weeks, pushing up grain prices.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Ukraine of 'brazen acts of terrorism' against shipping.
Russia also ruled out reviving the 2022 Turkey-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative, describing the previous arrangement as one-sided.
- Who
- Russia (via Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova) rejected the proposal; Turkey (Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan) acted as mediator; Ukraine was the other party.
- What
- A temporary ceasefire in the Black Sea to halt attacks on civilian shipping, plus any revival of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
- When
- Announced on Friday; attacks on commercial shipping had intensified over recent weeks.
- Where
- Black Sea region.
- Why
- Moscow said there is no basis for 'half-measures' that would give Ukraine a pause, and accused Ukraine of deliberately destabilizing civilian shipping.
Ukraine / Turkey
Russia / Moscow
Truce proposal
Ukraine / Turkey
Turkey says it presented proposals to both sides for a moratorium on military operations; Ukraine reportedly offered to halt attacks on civilian targets.
Russia / Moscow
Russia sees no grounds for 'half-measures' that would give Ukraine a pause, and claims it never received a formal proposal from Turkey.
Blame for shipping attacks
Ukraine / Turkey
Ukraine holds Russia responsible for escalating attacks on commercial shipping, with both sides intensifying strikes.
Russia / Moscow
Russia accuses Ukraine of 'brazen acts of terrorism' and a deliberate policy to destabilize civilian shipping in the Black Sea.
Black Sea Grain Initiative
Ukraine / Turkey
The 2022 Turkey-brokered deal kept agricultural exports moving through the Black Sea; its collapse threatens global grain supplies.
Russia / Moscow
Russia calls the arrangement one-sided and withdrew because Ukraine and Western countries failed to fulfill their commitments.
- Event
- Russia rejects temporary Black Sea ceasefire proposal
- Proposal source
- Turkey (Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan)
- Russia's stated reason
- No basis for 'half-measures'; 'no signs of improvement'
- Russia's claim
- Received no formal proposal from Turkey
- Ukraine's reported offer
- Halt to attacks on civilian targets, sent via a third party
- Market impact
- Rising grain prices; threats to a key route for global agricultural trade
- Previous agreement
- Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by Turkey in 2022; Russia ruled out reviving it
- Accusation
- Zakharova called Ukraine's shipping attacks 'brazen acts of terrorism'