Russia Rejects Black Sea Maritime Strike Moratorium Proposed by Turkey and Ukraine
The Kremlin officially rejected proposals from Turkey and Ukraine on August 15, 2026, for a mutual moratorium on strikes against civilian maritime targets in the Black Sea. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova dismissed the initiative as "half-measures," accusing Ukraine of destabilizing shipping despite ongoing Russian strikes on Ukrainian port infrastructure. The rejection follows a reported intensification of Russian drone attacks on internationally flagged grain vessels, underscoring Moscow's refusal to engage in limited diplomatic ceasefires during the ongoing summer offensive.