US Brokers Black Sea Ceasefire Between Russia and Ukraine
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to halt attacks in the Black Sea in separate deals with the US after three days of talks in Saudi Arabia. The agreements aim to ensure safe navigation and prevent the use of commercial shipping for military purposes. The White House also announced plans to help restore Russia’s access to global markets for agricultural and fertilizer exports, a long-standing demand from Moscow. However, the Kremlin insists the ceasefire will only take effect if certain sanctions on Russian banks and exporters are lifted.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the deal but accused Moscow of trying to manipulate the terms. "They are already trying to distort agreements and deceive the world," he said. While Ukraine committed to observing the partial truce immediately, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that clear guarantees from Washington were necessary before Russia complied. Additionally, both nations agreed to "develop measures" to prevent attacks on energy infrastructure, but recent drone strikes suggest tensions remain high.
President Donald Trump, who has been pushing for an end to the war, acknowledged that Russia might be stalling. "I think that Russia wants to see an end to it, but it could be they’re dragging their feet," he told Newsmax. The deal could be a step toward a broader ceasefire, but concerns persist that Russia is leveraging negotiations to extract further concessions. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials warned that any movement of Russian military vessels outside the eastern Black Sea would be treated as a violation.
