World · Europe · 2 hrs ago
Ukraine seeks Turkey, Egypt and India’s help to protect Black Sea food shipments
Ukraine is discussing a plan with Turkey, Egypt and India to protect food ships in the Black Sea.
The proposed arrangement would use ships sailing under those countries’ flags to carry food from Ukrainian and Russian ports, with both sides pledging not to attack them.
Turkey and the United Nations previously brokered a grain deal that enabled nearly 33 million metric tons of food to be shipped before Russia withdrew in 2023.
The new proposal would protect ships serving both Ukraine and Russia, unlike the earlier deal, which covered exports from Ukrainian ports.
Russia remains opposed, despite repeated approaches by intermediaries from the three countries.
Ukraine’s port shipments have been halted since August amid Russian attacks, and the country can currently export 38 percent of its usual volume, according to the figures cited.
Ukraine has also asked the European Union to restart a program that moved its farm goods by rail and through European ports.
The talks are continuing, but no agreement or next step is stated.
Ukraine is discussing a plan with Turkey, Egypt and India to protect food shipments through the Black Sea, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The proposal would use vessels sailing under the three countries’ flags to carry food from Ukrainian and Russian ports, with both sides agreeing not to attack them.
Zelenskyy said Russia was resisting the proposal.
Ukraine’s Black Sea ports have been unable to ship food since August amid Russian attacks on port facilities and commercial vessels, according to Bloomberg.
Ukraine can currently export 38 percent of its usual volume, Bloomberg reported, citing Ukraine’s Agriculture Ministry.
- Who
- Ukraine, Turkey, Egypt and India are discussing the plan. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the talks.
- What
- The countries are discussing protecting Black Sea food shipments using vessels under their flags and commitments from both warring sides not to attack them.
- When
- Zelenskyy described the talks in an interview reported on October 18, 2026. Shipments have been halted since August.
- Where
- The proposed corridor would serve Ukrainian and Russian ports in the Black Sea.
- Why
- The plan aims to protect food shipments. Ukraine’s Black Sea port shipments have been halted amid Russian attacks on port facilities and commercial vessels.
Ukraine
Russia
Proposal
Ukraine
Ukraine is discussing a plan to protect food shipments using vessels sailing under Turkey’s, Egypt’s and India’s flags.
Russia
Russia is resisting the proposal.
Attacks on vessels
Ukraine
The proposal calls for commitments from both warring sides not to attack the ships.
Russia
Not stated.
Turkey and the United Nations brokered the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Russia withdrew from the initiative and refused to extend it.
Shipments from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports have been halted amid Russian attacks on port facilities and commercial vessels.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine was in talks with Turkey, Egypt and India about opening Black Sea civil navigation, particularly for agricultural exports.
- Countries in talks
- Turkey, Egypt and India
- Proposed vessels
- Ships sailing under the three countries’ flags
- Current export capacity
- 38 percent of Ukraine’s usual volume
- Previous initiative
- Nearly 33 million metric tons of grain and other food products exported
- Previous initiative withdrawal
- Russia withdrew in July 2023
3 sources
What people are saying
We cannot manage this volume of shipments by rail
Everyone needs this grain
We are asking the EU to reinstate the ‘solidarity lanes’ to facilitate grain exports