Deals reached on safe travel in Black Sea

Moscow, Kyiv agree on halt in maritime, energy attacks, but express skepticism

The United States has announced separate agreements with Ukraine and Russia to ensure safe passage in the Black Sea and ban military attacks by the two countries on energy facilities.

The White House issued separate statements for the two countries on Tuesday, summarizing three days of talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Some of the points, such as on the Black Sea, contained the same language for both sides.

While it was unclear when or how the Black Sea maritime security deals would take effect, the agreements are the first formal commitments by the two warring sides since US President Donald Trump's inauguration.

The statements said that the belligerents in the three-year-long conflict 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".

Kyiv and Moscow both said they would rely on Washington to enforce the deals, while expressing skepticism.

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that a number of conditions must be met before the Black Sea maritime security deal can be activated. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "These are the same conditions that were included in the (original) Black Sea Initiative … all the conditions of which were fulfilled except for those concerning the Russian side. So, of course, this time round justice must prevail and we will continue our work with the Americans."

In Kyiv, Zelensky said: "If the Russians violate this, then I have a direct question for President Trump. If they violate — here is the evidence — we ask for sanctions, we ask for weapons, etc."

The US agreement with Russia goes further than the agreement with Ukraine.

The Kremlin said in its own statement on Tuesday that the US also vowed to help restore access for Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports to the world market and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.

Zelensky said the agricultural provision was "a weakening of positions and a weakening of sanctions".

Lifting restrictions on Russia's agricultural exports would also need the approval of the European Union, which is unlikely, The New York Times reported.

A European Commission spokesperson said on Wednesday the withdrawal of all Russian forces from Ukraine would be one of the main conditions for lifting or amending sanctions.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the United Nations and Turkiye in July 2022, sought to guarantee the safe passage of Ukrainian agricultural exports in return for the easing of Western restrictions on Russia's grain and fertilizer business. Moscow did not renew the deal in 2023, saying the West failed to uphold its commitments.

SWIFT system in focus

Russia also wants restrictions lifted on the Russian Agricultural Bank and other financial institutions involved in the international trade of food and fertilizers, including reconnecting them to the SWIFT payments system.

"We're thinking about all of them right now," Trump said on Tuesday of Russia's requests. "There are five or six conditions."

The latest developments on the diplomatic front did not stop the attacks on energy infrastructure on Wednesday, with both sides trading blame for strikes endangering truce efforts.

Russia accused Ukraine of attacking its energy infrastructure overnight.

"The Kyiv regime, while continuing to damage Russia's civilian energy infrastructure, is actually doing everything it can to disrupt the Russian American agreements," the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Zelensky meanwhile denounced a barrage of more than 100 drones launched by Russia overnight.

"Launching such large-scale attacks after ceasefire negotiations is a clear signal to the whole world that Moscow is not going to pursue real peace," Zelensky said on social media.

Cui Haipei in Dubai, UAE and agencies contributed to this story.

hengweili@chinadailyusa.com