Following meetings between American officials and representatives from Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia, the White House has announced that both nations have agreed to ensure safe passage for commercial shipping in the Black Sea and to halt military strikes. However, this apparent breakthrough is clouded by conflicting statements from the involved parties.
Russia has stipulated that the lifting of specific sanctions on banks, insurers, and food exporters is a prerequisite for the ceasefire’s implementation. Simultaneously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly accused Russia of disseminating false information regarding the terms of the agreement.
Reports indicate that US President Donald Trump has been engaging with US ambassadors at the White House concerning this matter. BBC’s Frank Gardner, reporting from Riyadh, cautioned that the agreement remains fragile and susceptible to unraveling.
Russia’s demands center on the removal of sanctions from banks engaged in international food and fertilizer trade and the restoration of their access to the SWIFT financial messaging network. Zelensky, in his nightly address, vehemently denied Russia’s claims, stating, “The Kremlin is lying again, claiming that the Black Sea ceasefire supposedly depends on sanctions and that the energy ceasefire supposedly began on 18 March. Moscow always lies.” He asserted that the White House statement was unambiguous and that the agreement’s success hinged on the international community’s resolve to prevent further Russian deception.
The Ukrainian defense ministry further clarified that any movement of Russian warships outside the “eastern part of the Black Sea” would be considered a breach of the agreement. While Zelensky acknowledged the deal as “a step in the right direction,” he deemed it “too early” to assess its viability. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, a participant in the Riyadh talks, called for “technical consultations” to finalize implementation details, monitoring, and control measures.
The United Kingdom has responded with cautious optimism, with a government spokeswoman stating that they are “obviously hopeful of the progress” and closely monitoring the situation. However, she declined to comment on whether the UK intends to ease any sanctions against Russia.
