US Confirms Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire Agreement in Black Sea

Post by: Bandan Preet

Photo: Reuters

The United States announced that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a ceasefire in the Black Sea and will work together to stop attacks on energy facilities.

According to the White House, officials from both countries held talks for three days in Saudi Arabia. These meetings helped them reach an agreement on making sure ships could travel safely in the Black Sea. They also decided that commercial ships should not be used for military purposes.

As part of this understanding, the U.S. has promised to help Russia regain access to the global market for agricultural and fertilizer exports. This will include lowering the cost of shipping insurance and improving Russia’s ability to use ports and payment systems for trade.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine would start following the ceasefire immediately. He also mentioned that Ukrainian and U.S. officials might have another round of discussions soon.

The Russian government confirmed the agreement on safe navigation in the Black Sea. However, they said it would only take effect if Western sanctions on Russian banks and companies involved in the food and fertilizer trade were lifted. Russia wants its Agricultural Bank and other financial institutions to be reconnected to the SWIFT international payment system before the deal is fully enforced.

Russia is the largest wheat exporter in the world, supplying over 20% of global trade. Ukraine is also a key exporter of crops and has continued shipping goods through the Black Sea, even after Russia withdrew from a United Nations-backed grain deal in 2023.

After the agreement, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov posted on Facebook that any movement of Russian warships outside the eastern Black Sea would be considered a violation of the agreement and a threat to Ukraine’s security.

Agreement to Stop Attacks on Energy Infrastructure

The White House also said that both Russia and Ukraine agreed to work with the U.S. to stop attacks on energy facilities. This ban will begin on March 18 and last for 30 days. However, reaching a full ceasefire remains difficult. Some believe that Russia is delaying a complete agreement to get more benefits from the U.S., especially as President Donald Trump pushes for a quick end to the war.

Trump’s administration is hoping to secure a full ceasefire by April 20, according to reports. However, officials from Ukraine and Europe believe this timeline may be too optimistic. The statements from Russia and Ukraine did not mention any future meetings or a possible summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to U.S. intelligence reports, both Russia and Ukraine might prefer to extend the war instead of rushing into a full peace deal.

Tough But Useful Talks in Saudi Arabia

The statements about the agreement came after the Kremlin (Russia’s government) said it would not reveal details of the 12-hour negotiations between Russian and U.S. officials in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Ukrainian and U.S. officials also held another round of talks on Tuesday, following a discussion on Sunday that Ukraine’s defense minister described as “productive and focused.”

These meetings happened after Trump spoke separately with both Putin and Zelensky over the phone last week. During those calls, he convinced them to agree to the 30-day pause in attacks on energy infrastructure. However, there is still no clear plan on how this will be monitored or enforced.

The U.S. government also said it remains committed to helping with the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of Ukrainian children who were forcibly taken.

A Russian official, Grigory Karasin, said that while the discussions with the U.S. were tough, they were still constructive. He mentioned that the negotiations would continue and involve the United Nations and other countries.

In 2022-2023, Turkey and the United Nations helped negotiate a grain export deal to allow Ukraine to ship crops through the Black Sea, but the deal fell apart when Russia pulled out.

Ukraine Wants a Full Ceasefire

Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova, said that Ukraine fully supports the idea of a complete ceasefire that goes beyond just protecting energy sites.

“We completely support this,” she said in an interview. “But we need Russia to agree to it as well. It takes two sides to make peace.”

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