On Tuesday, the U.S. announced a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea, committing both nations to safe navigation and non-military use of commercial vessels. Ukraine’s President Zelensky expressed concerns about the potential weakening of sanctions. The U.S. will assist both countries with agricultural exports and prisoner exchanges. Ongoing negotiations continue amid hostilities, with Russia seeking to limit ceasefire terms, as violence persists with recent attacks resulting in civilian casualties.
On Tuesday, the United States revealed that Russia and Ukraine have reached an agreement to suspend hostilities in the Black Sea. Washington also expressed its willingness to assist Moscow in exporting agricultural products and fertilizers to international markets.
According to statements from the White House, both nations have committed to ensuring safe navigation, refraining from the use of force, and preventing commercial vessels from being utilized for military purposes in the Black Sea. These announcements followed discussions held recently with representatives from both countries in Saudi Arabia.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine affirmed his country’s commitment to implementing these “good measures” as outlined by Washington.
Furthermore, both countries agreed to involve “third” nations to supervise the ceasefire, a move that has also garnered approval from the Kremlin.
The United States has pledged to support Ukraine in efforts related to prisoner exchanges, the release of civilians, and the safe return of forcibly displaced Ukrainian children.
Moscow, in turn, is set to receive support from the U.S. to restore its access to global agricultural and fertilizer markets, decrease maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems. This support addresses a significant concern for Russia following the stringent sanctions imposed after its invasion of Ukraine.
Zelensky expressed his dissatisfaction during a press conference, stating that this constitutes a “weakening of sanctions” and that the topic was not initially on Ukraine’s agenda; rather, it was raised by the Americans during the negotiations in Riyadh.
However, the Kremlin has cautioned that these agreements will only take effect after Western restrictions on Russian grain and fertilizer trade are lifted.
Both Moscow and Washington plan to “develop measures” that will facilitate a 30-day ceasefire regarding strikes on energy infrastructure in both Russia and Ukraine, according to a Kremlin statement.
Details Yet to be Finalized
During the recent talks, the U.S. reiterated that President Donald Trump is committed to ending the violence on both sides.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov has called for additional technical consultations to finalize the “details” of the agreements announced by the White House.
He also emphasized that any movement of Russian warships in the Black Sea near Ukraine would be considered a “violation” of the ceasefire agreement.
A previously established grain agreement allowed Ukraine to export essential grains, crucial for global food supply, from July 2022 to July 2023, despite the presence of the Russian fleet. However, Russia unilaterally withdrew from this agreement, accusing the West of failing to uphold their commitments intended to alleviate sanctions on Russian exports.
Challenges Persist Amid Ongoing Conflict
Kiev has accused Russia of stalling to leverage its military position. Grigori Karasin, one of the Russian negotiators, remarked that the dialogue with U.S. representatives on Monday was “intense, not easy, but very useful.”
“We have not resolved everything yet, but this conversation seems very timely,” Karasin noted.
A new round of discussions between Ukrainian and American teams took place on Tuesday morning in Riyadh. Since the inception of these talks involving Washington, Moscow, and Kiev on Sunday, there has yet to be a comprehensive ceasefire or agreement on a moratorium regarding specific airstrikes.
Under pressure, President Donald Trump had secured Kiev’s theoretical agreement for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. However, Vladimir Putin, while cautious not to dismiss his American counterpart, outlined multiple demands, expressing a desire to limit the ceasefire solely to strikes on energy infrastructure.
Despite Trump’s considerable pressure on Kiev, he has maintained a relatively lenient stance towards Russia, although he has suggested the possibility of new sanctions in recent weeks.
Putin, whose military continues to advance despite significant losses, does not appear eager to finalize an agreement, particularly given that Ukrainian forces still hold territory in the Russian region of Kursk. As discussions unfold, fighting persists, with a recent Russian strike injuring 101 individuals, including 23 children, in Sumy, northeastern Ukraine, as reported by the city’s mayor. Additionally, the Russian military announced the capture of two localities in the southern and eastern regions.