DrCaleb DrCaleb:
It would be a great thing if the Royal Navy escorted grain shipments out of Ukraine, if Russia hasn't stolen them all yet.
IIRC, the US escorted oil tankers in the Persian Gulf during the Iran-Iraq War...so I say go for it.
Sure, it's risky if the Russians decide to take a shot at them, but world opinion will be even more against them if they sink a freighter full of grain headed to Africa.
I'd hope that NATO escorts would deter them, because that would constitute invoking Article 5 if Russia hit a NATO warship, even if it's in a war zone. Then again, maybe Putin wants to go out in a blaze of nuclear fire, so maybe not.
The areas outside their only port, Odessa, are also mined. They would need an escort capable of de-mining the waters.
Russia are douchebags, because they stole all the ships Ukraine had in 2014, but still mine the waters so merchant traffic can't sail.