The United States has reached agreement with Russia and Ukraine to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea, the White House said on Tuesday.
The agreement follows separate technical-level talks between U.S. and Ukrainian delegations, as well as between U.S. and Russian delegations, held from Sunday to Tuesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The White House on Tuesday released two statements regarding the talks, saying the United States has reached agreement with Russia and Ukraine to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.
The United States reached separate agreements with both Russia and Ukraine to develop measures to ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine, according to the statements.
The three countries welcome the good offices of third countries with a view toward supporting the implementation of the energy and maritime agreements, said the statements.
The U.S.-Russia and U.S.-Ukraine talks also agreed on efforts to achieve a "durable and lasting peace". Among the outcomes of the U.S.-Russia talks, 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, according to the statement.
In the U.S.-Ukraine talks, both sides reaffirmed the United States' commitment to helping achieve the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children.
The Kremlin also issued a statement on Tuesday, listing five main outcomes of the Russia-U.S. expert groups meeting.
First, the Russian and American sides agreed to provide for the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative, which includes ensuring safe navigation, eliminating the use of force, and preventing the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea, while adopting appropriate control measures by inspecting such vessels.
Second, 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.
Third, the two sides agreed to ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine for 30 days starting on March 18, 2025, with an option to extend the agreement or to withdraw from it in the event of non-compliance by either party.
Fourth, both sides welcome the good offices of third countries with a view toward supporting the implementation of the energy and maritime agreements.
Fifth, Russia and the United States will continue working toward achieving a durable and lasting peace.
Russia said that the first two parts will take effect after the lifting of a number of sanctions against it.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday that Moscow supports resuming the Black Sea deal in a form that is "more acceptable to everyone", and called for "clear, specific, verifiable, and working guarantees and mechanisms".
The Kremlin also released a category list of energy facilities spared from being targeted during a 30-day energy ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which includes oil refineries, oil and gas pipelines and storage facilities, electricity generation and transmission infrastructure, nuclear power plants, and hydroelectric dam facilities. In a social media post on Tuesday, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed that all parties have agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea. Meanwhile, he emphasized that all movement by Russian military vessels outside of Eastern part of the Black Sea will constitute violation of the spirit of this agreement, will be regarded as violation of the commitment to ensure safe navigation of the Black Sea and threat to the national security of Ukraine, and in this case Ukraine will have full rights to exercise self-defense.
All parties agreed to develop measures to ban strikes against energy facilities of Ukraine and Russia, welcome the good offices of third countries with a view toward supporting the implementation of the energy and maritime agreements, and will continue working towards achieving a durable and lasting peace, said the minister.
Ukraine has not reached any consensus on territorial issues with the United States or Russia, Ukrainian President told reporters on Tuesday, adding that the United States agreed to hold a new round of talks on the details of the ceasefire in the near future
Russia and Ukraine signed separately with Türkiye and the United Nations the Black Sea Grain Initiative in Istanbul in July 2022, which secured the export of Ukrainian grain and other agricultural products from Black Sea ports.
As a parallel agreement, Russia and the UN signed a memorandum of understanding on the facilitation of Russian food and fertilizer exports.
On July 17, 2023, Russia suspended its participation in the Black Sea deal, citing unfulfilled commitments to the Russian part.
U.S. says agreement reached in talks with Russia, Ukraine regarding Black Sea
U.S. says agreement reached in talks with Russia, Ukraine regarding Black Sea
U.S. says agreement reached in talks with Russia, Ukraine regarding Black Sea
