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.