Ukraine and Russia have agreed to a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea following U.S.-led negotiations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The agreement, announced by the White House on Tuesday, aims to secure safe navigation and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes.
However, Russia has insisted that the deal will only take effect if Western sanctions on the Russian agricultural sector are lifted, including the restoration of banking links and access to international payment systems. Ukraine has firmly rejected these demands, asserting that sanctions relief should not be tied to the ceasefire. Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stressed that any Russian military vessels moving outside the eastern part of the Black Sea would be considered a violation, threatening Ukraine’s national security.
The U.S. has pledged to help Ukraine with prisoner exchanges and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children, while also assisting Russia in restoring its access to global markets for agricultural exports.
