Russia and Ukraine have separately committed to refraining from military strikes on vessels in the Black Sea, the United States announced following diplomatic talks in Saudi Arabia.
In a statement on Tuesday, the White House confirmed that both nations had agreed to “ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.”
Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, who was part of Kyiv’s delegation in Riyadh, affirmed that Ukraine had agreed to the ceasefire, specifying that it includes attacks on Black Sea shipping and energy infrastructure.
He cautioned in a Facebook post that Ukraine would regard any movement of Russian warships “outside the eastern part” of the Black Sea as a violation of the agreement. Should this occur, Kyiv would have the “full right to exercise right to self-defence.”
Umerov also called for “additional technical consultations” to finalize “all the details and technical aspects of the implementation, monitoring, and control of the arrangements.”
As of now, there has been no official response from Moscow regarding the agreement.
The breakthrough followed U.S.-mediated discussions with Russian and Ukrainian delegations, primarily focused on ending attacks on Black Sea shipping. These negotiations are seen as a step toward broader ceasefire talks amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which has lasted over three years.
During an intensive 12-hour session on Monday, U.S. and Russian officials also revisited the potential revival of the 2022 Black Sea Grain Initiative. This agreement, initially brokered by Türkiye and the United Nations, aimed to facilitate Ukraine’s export of millions of tonnes of grain and other agricultural goods from its ports.
Russia withdrew from the deal in 2023, accusing Western nations of failing to uphold commitments to ease sanctions on Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports.
In an effort to restore balance, the White House stated, “The United States will help restore Russia’s access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.”
