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The United States said it had reached agreements with Ukraine and Russia to ceasefire in the Black Sea after talks with both sides in Saudi Arabia.
The White House said on Tuesday that Kiev and Moscow had agreed “to provide safe navigation, eliminate the use of force and prevent the use of commercial ships for military purposes in the Black Sea”.
But it remained unclear when the agreement will be implemented. The agreement also does not belong to the proposed ceasefire of the Trump administration, which will include the front line of 1,000 km-proposal Supported by Kyiv, but rejected by Moscow.
While Kiev said it would adhere immediately, Moscow said that the abolition of sanctions imposed on Russian banks involved in the production and trade of agricultural products would first be provided. Cremlin is also trying to process those banks in the Swift Message System, a move that will require EU approval.
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski said Kiev would retain the end of the agreement, even when he remained skeptical about Russia’s intentions.
“There is no faith in the Russians,” he said. “But I believe we will act constructively and do our part to implement the results of the US-Ukrain meeting.”
Speaking to reporters in Kiev, Zelenski said the US side Told told his delegation that the Black Sea interruption – like Russian President Vladimir Putin’s previous pledge to pause attacks on energy infrastructure for 30 days – will be effective immediately.
“First we agreed that there could be silence at sea and free navigation,” Zreky said. “The second point is to stop the attacks on the energy system.”
A senior Ukrainian official told the Financial Times that Kiev would immediately halt the “deep attacks” of Russian military targets under the deal, including the Black Sea and energy targets. Ukraine used home -developed drones to hit oil refiners deep on Russian territory.
A senior official said time was not agreed. He added that “not only the ships” but also the Ukrainian ports were involved in the maritime ceasefire. Odessa and other Black Sea ports continued to be affected by Russian rockets and drones in recent days.
Cremlin conditions in Saudi Arabia have largely echoed demanding to extend the Black Sea maritime security agreement in 2022. The United States and the EU introduced carved arrangements and back arrangements to facilitate payments, but Russia complained that the measures were insufficient and, in July 2023, withdrew from the deal.
But Russia’s demand to abolish lender restrictions, if successful, will mark a significant return on Western sanctions regime that the United States and the EU have not previously wanted to do.
Russian fertilizer exports reached a record 40 million tonnes last year and is expected to increase to 5 % in 2025, according to the main trade industry association.
The increase shows how Russia has managed to find alternative export roads, indicating that Cremlin is currently more interested in creating holes in the Western sanctions regime, rather than stepping up exports, said Elina Ribakova, an older associate at the Peterson Institute for an international economy.
“There is little substance for trade. It is a small part of Russia’s exports. Russia writes a sequel to The art of the contract“Referring to US President Donald Trump’s book in 1987.
Cartography by Steven Bernard
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