Rubio Says Russia, Ukraine Show Interest in Limited Grain and Energy Ceasefire

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Russia and Ukraine have both expressed interest in a limited ceasefire covering grain and energy-related targets, raising the possibility of a narrowly focused pause in some areas of the nearly five-year war.

Rubio made the comments on Wednesday, September 23, after meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

“I think both sides have expressed an interest in some limited ceasefire that involve grain and energy,” Rubio told reporters, while acknowledging that reaching an agreement would not be easy.

The proposal comes as Russia and Ukraine continue to carry out long-range attacks against each other’s energy infrastructure. Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian oil refineries and other energy facilities, while Russian missiles and drones have repeatedly struck Ukraine’s electricity, heating and fuel infrastructure.

Kyiv has been pushing for an arrangement that would stop attacks on energy facilities, particularly as Ukraine prepares for another winter. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this week that his country was ready for an energy ceasefire if Russia also stopped attacks on Ukraine’s energy system.

Zelenskyy has also called for a maritime truce in the Black Sea, saying Ukraine was ready to support arrangements aimed at protecting shipping and the movement of agricultural products. The Black Sea is an important route for Ukrainian grain exports to international markets.

The issue has broader implications for global food supplies. Russia and Ukraine have historically been major exporters of wheat and other agricultural commodities, and disruptions to Black Sea shipping have affected international food markets. AP reported that continued disruption to agricultural exports could put additional pressure on countries dependent on supplies from the region.

However, there is no indication that a formal agreement has been reached. Reuters reported that the Kremlin had not publicly backed the proposals, while Russian officials said there were still no conditions for broader peace negotiations, although Moscow maintained that it remained open to talks.

The Rubio-Lavrov meeting came as diplomatic efforts surrounding the war intensified during the UN General Assembly in New York. Zelenskyy has been seeking international backing for measures to protect Ukraine’s energy system and maintain access to Black Sea trade routes.

The proposed limited ceasefire would not amount to a wider end to the war. Instead, it would focus on specific areas; particularly energy infrastructure and grain-related activities, where both sides have strategic and economic interests.

Rubio said Washington was prepared to play a constructive role in efforts to facilitate such an arrangement, while acknowledging the difficulty of persuading Moscow and Kyiv to stop attacks in areas that both sides regard as important to their war efforts.

For now, the proposal remains at the discussion stage, with further negotiations needed before any limited ceasefire could take effect.