On Tuesday, the United States finalized distinct agreements with both Ukraine and Russia aimed at ensuring safe navigation in the Black Sea and instituting a ban on attacks targeting each other’s energy infrastructure.
If these agreements are executed, they would mark significant progress toward achieving a broader ceasefire, which U.S. officials see as a crucial first step in the peace negotiations to end Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its third year.
Both nations expressed a dependence on the U.S. to enforce these agreements.
“If the Russians breach this agreement, I have a direct question for President Trump. Should they violate it and we have evidence, we will request sanctions and more military support,” stated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during a press conference in Kyiv.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov remarked, “We need clear assurances. Based on past experiences with agreements solely with Kyiv, any guarantees must stem from directives issued by Washington to Zelenskiy and his team to either act or refrain from certain actions.”
The agreements were reached in Saudi Arabia, following discussions propelled by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has pledged to swiftly conclude the conflict while shifting the U.S. stance to a more conciliatory approach toward Moscow.
As part of the deal with Moscow, Washington has committed to assisting in restoring Russia’s access to agricultural and fertilizer markets, an action the Kremlin states will necessitate lifting some sanctions.
These discussions came after separate conversations last week between Trump and the two leaders, Zelenskiy and Vladimir Putin. Putin dismissed Trump’s suggestion for a comprehensive 30-day ceasefire that Ukraine had previously accepted.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov indicated that Kyiv would interpret any movement of Russian military vessels beyond the eastern part of the Black Sea as a violation and a threat, granting Ukraine the right to self-defense in such scenarios.
Suspension of Attacks on Energy Infrastructure
Throughout the conflict, Russia has targeted Ukraine’s power grid with missile and drone strikes, claiming that civilian energy facilities are legitimate targets because they bolster Ukraine’s military capabilities.
Recently, Ukraine has engaged in long-range strikes on Russian oil and gas installations, asserting these sites supply fuel to Russian forces and finance their military efforts.
In the early stages of the war, Russia effectively blockaded Ukrainian maritime operations, threatening to exacerbate a global food crisis, given Ukraine’s status as one of the world’s leading grain exporters.
However, since 2023, naval engagements have played a relatively minor role in the conflict following Russia’s withdrawal of naval assets from the eastern Black Sea after a series of successful Ukrainian operations. Kyiv managed to reopen its ports and return to near pre-war export levels, despite the collapse of a prior UN-mediated shipping agreement in the Black Sea.
Trump is urging both sides to conclude the war rapidly, a commitment he made during his presidential campaign last year.
Simultaneously, he is advocating for a swift reconciliation with Russia, which both the U.S. and Moscow claim could unveil lucrative business prospects.
Ukraine and its European allies are concerned that Trump may strike an impulsive deal with Putin that threatens their security and yields to Russian demands, such as requiring Kyiv to abandon its NATO aspirations and concede control over four territories that Russia claims. Ukraine has deemed this unacceptable, equating it to surrender.
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