Zelensky made the remarks during the Crimean Platform summit held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, just before a Security Council meeting on the fifth year of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader said the country is ready to guarantee safe navigation for merchant vessels and protect food‑security shipments if Russia takes “real steps toward de‑escalation,” stressing that the onus now lies with Moscow.
Ukraine has warned that Russia may intensify attacks on power and heating infrastructure this winter, and has been pressing for cease‑fires that would shield both energy sites and Black Sea shipping from further strikes.
Egypt, India and Turkey have outlined a set of options aimed at restoring safe passage for cargo ships, which have been largely immobilised after repeated attacks on vessels and port facilities by both sides.
The disruption has hit wheat‑importing nations across Asia, the Middle East and Africa, where rising global wheat prices are already straining food supplies that depend heavily on Black Sea exports.
Zelensky also referenced a recent meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, saying the two discussed a broader cease‑fire covering energy targets, and noted that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reported both Kyiv and Moscow expressed interest in a limited grain‑and‑energy truce after his talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
The Kremlin has not publicly endorsed the maritime truce proposals. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there are currently no prerequisites for moving toward a peace track, but affirmed Russia remains “open to peace talks.”
Zelensky added that he would be prepared to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin at a trilateral summit with Trump if Moscow signals willingness to negotiate.