The United Nations on Tuesday welcomed an agreement the United States has reached with Russia and Ukraine on the Black Sea issue.
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 March 23 to 25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
"We've seen the two announcements which are obviously welcome. These issues, notably on the freedom of navigation and the Black Sea, are issues that the secretary-general, his team, and notably, Rebecca Greenspan and others have been working on since almost the start of the conflict. And there continues to be discussions on these issues." said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
"We were not present in Riyadh. Rebecca Greenspan had been in Moscow yesterday, as part of pre-scheduled discussion on the issues notably related to Russia, to the memorandum of understanding. She continues to have discussions on these issues in Washington and other places, and with key interlocutors," he said.
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.
UN welcomes US agreement with Russia, Ukraine on Black Sea: spokesman
UN welcomes US agreement with Russia, Ukraine on Black Sea: spokesman
