Germany proposes to make the Black Sea truce a test of Russia’s “goodwill”

The German Foreign Ministry emphasizes that the disruption of grain transportation poses a particular threat to countries in the Global South.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadeful has called for a ceasefire in the Black Sea as a first step towards resuming grain transportation. This is reported by Ukrinform.

“I believe that it is our common duty to ensure that, at least as a first step, a ceasefire is achieved in the Black Sea, which will allow these grain shipments to be carried out before they spoil,” the German Foreign Minister said.

He emphasized that the halt in grain transportation poses a particular threat to countries in the Global South. A possible famine, he said, could lead to the destabilization of entire states, new refugee flows, and massive human suffering.

The issue of resuming transportation was one of the key issues during Wadeful’s meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in New York on September 26. This was the first conversation at the level of the foreign ministers of the two countries in four years. According to Wadeful, he was prompted to this step by appeals from several foreign ministers concerned about the risk of famine.

Separately, Wadeful suggested considering Russia’s participation in the G20 summit as a test of readiness for negotiations. Moscow, in his opinion, could demonstrate goodwill with concrete steps – in particular, by announcing a partial ceasefire in the Black Sea to resume Ukrainian grain exports.

The German Foreign Minister also stressed the need for Europe’s direct participation in potential peace talks.

“We should not leave them only to the US, but we, Europeans, must play a certain role in them. After all, this is about the future of Europe,” the minister added.

Meanwhile, alternative logistics for Ukrainian grain through the Baltic ports were discussed in Brussels.