US agrees maritime ceasefire deal with Ukraine and Russia

Stay in view of the free updates

Simply subscribe to War in Ukraine Myft Digest – it is delivered directly to your inbox.

The United States said it had reached agreements with Ukraine and Russia for a ceasefire in the Black Sea, following talks with both sides in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The White House said on Tuesday that Kiev and Moscow agreed to “ensure safe movement, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.”

But it remained unclear when the deal will be implemented. Also, the agreement is not separated from the 30-day ceasefire of the Trump administration, which would include the 1,000-km-length-long-term confrontation line-a proposal supported by KyIV but Moscow rejected it.

While Kiev said that he would immediately agree, Moscow said it would first need to secure the lifting of the sanctions imposed on Russian banks participating in the production and trade of agricultural commodities. The Kremlin also seeks to read these banks to the fast messaging system, a step that requires the approval of the European Union.

Ukrainian president Folodimir Zelinski said that Kiev would stand up to the end of the deal, even when he remained skeptical in Russia’s intentions.

“There is no faith in the Russians,” he said. “But I think we will act constructively and do our role to implement the results of the United States meeting, Ukraine.”

Speaking to Kiev’s journalists, Zelinski said that the American team told his delegation that the Black Sea was stopping shooting – as well as a previous pledge by Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop attacks on energy infrastructure for 30 days – immediately.

“We first agreed that there could be silence in the sea and free navigation,” said Zellinski. “The second point is to stop attacks on the power system.”

A senior Ukrainian official told the Financial Times that Kyiv will immediately stop “deep strikes” on Russian military targets under the deal, including the Black Sea and Energy targets. Ukraine used domestic drones to hit oil refineries in the depth of Russian territory.

A senior official said that it was not agreed on the timing. He added that “not only ships”, but the Ukrainian ports were included in the ceasefire. Odessa and other Black Sea ports have continued in missiles and drones in recent days.

The conditions of the Kremlin in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have largely echoed the demands that it submitted to expand a black naval security deal in 2022. The United States and the European Union presented points and rear doors to facilitate payments, but Russia complained that the measures were insufficient, and in July 2023, it was withdrawn from the agreement.

But Russia’s demand to lift the restrictions imposed on lenders, if it succeeds, will represent a significant decline in the Western sanctions system that the United States and the European Union were previously hesitant.

Russian fertilizer exports reached a record number 40 million tons last year and are expected to increase by up to 5 percent in 2025, according to the main commercial association in the industry.

Ilina Ribakova, an older colleague at the Peterson Institute for International Economy, said, instead of enhancing exports, said Elina Ripkova, an older colleague at the Peterson International Economy Institute, instead of enhancing exports, said Elena Reycova, an older colleague at the Peterson International Economy Institute, instead of strengthening exports, said the increase shows how Russia has succeeded in finding export methods An alternative, which indicates that the Kremlin was more interested in creating holes in the Western sanctions system, rather than enhancing exports.

“There is little essence on trade. It is a small share of Russia’s exports. Russia is writing a continuation of The art of the deal“Referring to the 1987 US President Donald Trump’s book.

Stephen Bernard’s maps fee