The United States of America on March 26 concluded separate agreements with Moscow and Kyiv to stop attacks in the Black Sea and on energy infrastructure, IPN reports.
Following talks in Riyadh between U.S. officials with the Russian delegation, then with the Ukrainian one, agreements to cease maritime attacks and ensure safe navigation were reached, the White House said in a statement.
Both Ukraine and the Russian Federation said they will rely on Washington in implementing the agreements.
Shortly after the U.S.’ announcement, the Kremlin noted that the agreement on the Black Sea will not enter into force unless sanctions on some of the Russian banks are lifted and access to the SWIFT payment system is restored, according to the Russian news agency TASS.
Washington did not mentioned the lifting of sanctions, only that it will restore Russia's access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the lifting of sanctions is not necessary for the concluded agreements to enter into force, calling the Kremlin's statement an attempt to manipulate: "They are already trying to distort agreements and, in fact, deceive both our intermediaries and the entire world."
On the other hand, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with the Russian state television that Moscow needs guarantees: "We will need clear guarantees. Given the disappointing experiences of our previous agreements with Kyiv, guarantees can only exist in the form of a directive from Washington to Zelenskyy."
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also said that if Russia violated the agreements, he would ask Donald Trump to impose additional sanctions on Moscow and provide more weapons to Ukraine: "We do not trust the Russians, but we will be constructive."
In the run-up to statements on the deals, both Moscow and Kyiv accused each other of launching drone strikes, but there were no reports of attacks in the Black Sea or on energy infrastructure. The source noted that if the agreements are implemented, they could be the first significant step towards a just peace in Ukraine.
Photo source: Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
