Sybiha says Russia has halted Black Sea navigation through missile attacks, calls for joint action with Poland
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Russia has stopped maritime traffic in the Black Sea through attacks on port infrastructure, civilian vessels and shipping routes. Speaking in Kyiv alongside Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, he called for joint Ukraine-Poland action to restore freedom of navigation, thanked the EU for restoring the Solidarity Corridors, and urged a full EU embargo on Russian products including grain exported through Baltic ports.
Key points
- Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Russia has halted Black Sea navigation through 'missile terror' on September 13
- Sybiha spoke at a joint briefing in Kyiv with Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski
- He said Russia has recently escalated attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure, civilian vessels and maritime routes
- He called for joint Ukrainian-Polish action to restore freedom of navigation in the Black Sea
- He thanked the EU for restoring the Solidarity Corridors
- He raised the issue of Russia using Baltic ports to export grain and called for a full EU embargo on Russian products
Why it matters
Sybiha's remarks frame Russia as the actor blocking Black Sea navigation, with direct consequences for Ukrainian grain exports and global food security. The joint appearance with Poland's foreign minister points to coordinated diplomacy on maritime security and sanctions. The call for a full EU embargo on Russian products — including grain routed through Baltic ports — goes beyond existing measures and would touch European agricultural markets.
What happened
At a joint briefing in Kyiv on September 13 with Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Russia has halted Black Sea maritime traffic and navigation through what he described as missile terror. He said Russia has recently been escalating attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure, civilian vessels and maritime routes in the Black Sea. Sybiha stressed the importance of joint Ukrainian-Polish action to restore freedom of navigation, and thanked the European Union for restoring the Solidarity Corridors. He also raised the problem of Russia using Baltic ports to export its grain and called for a full embargo on Russian products in the European market.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian reporting centers Sybiha's direct attribution of blame to Russia for halting Black Sea navigation through 'missile terror' and foregrounds his calls for expanded EU sanctions, including a full embargo on Russian products and action against Russian grain exports via Baltic ports.
Background
On September 11, President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that the Black Sea blockade caused by Russian aggression creates a food challenge not only for Ukraine but for many countries of the world.