USA, Russia Reach Agreement on Security in Black Sea
A framework agreement was also reached in Riyadh to halt attacks on energy infrastructure. Russia is seeking to resume free exports of grain and fertilizer, but Russian merchant ships have been docked in safe harbors for months as they risk attacks from Ukrainian missiles and drones
During two separate rounds of talks with US representatives, Russia and Ukraine reached a framework agreement on the cessation of hostilities in the Black Sea. The White House reported this in two communiqués, summarizing meetings held in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, with the participation of diplomatic delegations from Moscow and Kiev. Immediately after the US statement, both Russia and Ukraine confirmed the mutual understanding, agreeing to “guarantee the safety of navigation, avert the use of force, and prevent the use of civilian vessels for military purposes.”
This agreement was crucial, as Ukraine requested new meetings with the US side for “detailed elaboration of technical aspects.” Kiev also emphasized that “any movement of the Russian fleet beyond the eastern part of the water area, to which Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Georgia adjoin, will be considered a violation of the agreements.”
After a string of attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, the Kiev regime finally declared its readiness to “create a mechanism to monitor compliance with the ceasefire regarding attacks on energy facilities.” For Moscow, the truce came on March 18: unlike Ukraine, which in recent days has launched kamikaze drone strikes on a the Caucasus oil depot, Russia is no longer attacking “facilities protected by the agreement,” which include power and nuclear plants, oil refineries, gas pipelines, pumping stations, and fuel tanks. The Kremlin, based on factual evidence, accuses Kiev of failing to honor the agreements, as Russian oil refineries continued to be targeted by drone attacks.
In such a difficult situation, Grigory Karasin, the Russian Federation’s representative at the talks, characterized the dialogue as “not easy but useful.” The Kremlin’s demands include ensuring free access for Russian exporters to world markets for agricultural products, especially grain and fertilizers – areas in which Russia is one of the world’s largest producers. According to White House statements, Russian exporters can count on the United States to support them in “restoring access to these markets, reducing maritime cargo insurance costs, and improving access to international ports and payment systems.”
