Russia Rejects Black Sea Civilian Truce, Rules Out 2022 Grain Deal Revival
Updated
Updated · Farm Progress · Aug 19
Russia Rejects Black Sea Civilian Truce, Rules Out 2022 Grain Deal Revival
1 articles · Updated · Farm Progress · Aug 19
Summary
Russia last week rejected Ukraine’s proposal to halt attacks on civilian targets in the Black Sea, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova saying there were “no grounds for half measures.”
Zakharova also ruled out reviving the 2022 Turkey-brokered grain corridor, extending a conflict that has already battered regional shipping and grain flows.
136 merchant vessels have been attacked in Russian or Ukrainian ports and across the Black Sea in recent months, the Turkish Ship Owners Association said, advising members to avoid those voyages entirely.
Ukrainian grain exports plunged 76% year over year in August; USDA raised crop forecasts but cut export projections, nearly doubling expected wheat ending stocks to 4.8 million tons.
14 million tons is USDA’s Ukraine office estimate for corn exports—9 million below earlier projections—potentially opening the door for record U.S. corn exports for a second straight year.