Russia and Ukraine have both expressed interest in a limited ceasefire covering grain and energy-related targets, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said after meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in New York.
“I think both sides have expressed an interest in some limited ceasefire that involve grain and energy,” Rubio told reporters on Wednesday, adding that reaching such an agreement “won't be easy”.
Ukraine has pressed for ceasefires covering energy infrastructure and Black Sea shipping, amid concerns that Russia could target power and heating facilities with missiles and drones this winter.
Russia has not publicly indicated that it is ready to agree to a maritime or energy truce, and it was not immediately clear whether Rubio’s comments reflected any movement from Moscow following his talks with Lavrov.
Rubio said energy strikes were particularly difficult to address because they remain central to both sides’ tactical priorities in the war, which is now in its fifth year.
Kiev calls for maritime truce
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that he and US President Donald Trump had discussed a ceasefire covering energy-related targets. Zelenskyy was due to address the UN General Assembly later on Wednesday.
Earlier, Zelenskyy told world leaders that Kiev was ready for a maritime truce in the Black Sea based on proposals from countries including Türkiye, Egypt and India saying it was now up to Russia to respond.
“Kiev is ready to ensure safe shipping and food security in the Black Sea if Russia is ready to take real steps towards de-escalation too,” Zelenskyy said at Ukraine’s Crimean Platform summit. “We have to start somewhere.”
Top wheat importers in Asia, the Middle East and Africa that rely on supplies from the Black Sea region have faced difficulties securing shipments, while global wheat prices have risen.
Moscow remains open to talks
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told the UN Security Council that France supported moratoriums on attacks against energy infrastructure and in the Black Sea as an initial step towards de-escalation.
Ahead of the Rubio-Lavrov meeting, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said there were no conditions for broader peace talks with Ukraine, while maintaining that Moscow remained open to negotiations.
Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that he was ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in a trilateral meeting with Trump.
