Ukraine, US, Russia agree to guarantee safe navigation in Black Sea

Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and the White House press service reported.

As a result of the talks, the parties agreed to ensure safe navigation, stop the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea. 

At the same time, the Ukrainian side emphasized that Russia's movement of its warships beyond the eastern part of the Black Sea would be considered a violation of this agreement and would be viewed as a threat to Ukraine's national security. In this case, Kyiv will have every right to exercise its right to self-defense. 

Kyiv and Washington also agreed to develop measures to implement the agreement of the US and Ukrainian presidents on a complete ban on strikes on Ukrainian and Russian energy infrastructure.

“All parties welcome the good offices of third countries with a view toward supporting the implementation of the energy and maritime agreements,” Umerov emphasized.

The United States also reaffirmed its commitment to help with prisoner exchanges, the release of civilians, and the return of forcibly removed Ukrainian children.

The White House published two statement from its talks with Russia and Ukraine

In the Ukraine-specific readout, the White House said the US confirmed it “remains committed to helping achieve the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children.”

The Russia-specific document noted that the US would 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.”

Both versions ended stressing that “the United States reiterated President Donald J. Trump’s imperative that the killing on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine conflict must stop, as the necessary step toward achieving an enduring peace settlement.”

Zelenskyy's reaction

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that as a result of the talks, the parties agreed that there could be peace at sea and free navigation.

“We are grateful to the American side for this result, and it is important that we talked separately with the American side about infrastructure, we devoted a lot of time to this. If it is silence at sea and free navigation, we are talking about infrastructure,” he said, as quoted by RBC-Ukraine.

The Ukrainian leader also commented on the likelihood that the Ukrainian-American agreements in Riyadh on March 25 could come into force.

“The Minister of Defense (Rustem Umerov - ed.) asked the American side when it could come into force, and they believe that after the American side officially comes out with a statement, the decisions implemented in this document may begin,” Zelenskyy said.

Russia's reaction

The Kremlin confirmed the agreement to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea and American assistance in restoring Russia's access to the agricultural and fertilizer exports. 

However, Moscow emphasizes that these points will come into effect after the lifting of sanctions against the Russian Agricultural Bank and other banks that support trade in the agricultural sector. At the same time, Russian banks involved in agricultural exports, including the Russian Agricultural Bank, should be reconnected to SWIFT.

Moscow also claims that the Russian and American delegations agreed to develop measures to halt strikes on Russian and Ukrainian energy facilities for a period of 30 days that began on March 18, with the possibility of extending it or withdrawing from the agreement.

The Kremlin added that the grain deal will not come into force without the lifting of restrictions on the supply of agricultural machinery to Russia.

Background  

The previous round of talks between Ukraine and the U.S. took place on March 11 in Jeddah, where Ukraine agreed to an immediate temporary ceasefire. In return, the U.S. agreed to resume aid and intelligence sharing. President Zelenskyy stated that the 30-day ceasefire would apply to the entire front line if Russia agreed.

On March 18, Trump spoke with Putin, discussing the proposed 30-day ceasefire. Putin demanded a halt to Ukraine's mobilization and rearming of its military during this period. After the call, both sides reported that Putin supported a mutual cessation of attacks on energy infrastructure for 30 days.

On March 19, Trump informed Zelenskyy about his conversation with Putin. Zelenskyy expressed readiness to support a halt in attacks on energy and civilian infrastructure.