Ukraine and Russia have agreed to halt all military attacks in the Black Sea and to stop targeting energy facilities. On Tuesday, foreign media, including Euronews, reported that the United States brokered the agreement and will ease some sanctions on Russia.
The U.S. reached separate agreements with each country. Since taking office in January, the Donald Trump administration has been working to end the war in Ukraine and restore relations with Russia.
The U.S. agreement includes resuming Russian exports of agricultural products and fertilizers.
Over the past three days, the U.S. has held separate talks with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital.
Russia and Ukraine did not hold direct talks.
The Russian Kremlin stated that the Black Sea agreement could not be implemented without lifting financial sanctions on Russia.
In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied the claim, saying it wasn’t true and that there were no sanction relief conditions. “Russia is already starting to manipulate the situation,” he said.
Zelenskyy said the ceasefire agreement would be implemented immediately and criticized Russia for distorting the terms of the deal in an attempt to deceive mediating countries and the international community.
He emphasized, “We have no faith in the Russians, but we will be constructive.”
He added that if Russia violates the partial ceasefire, he will ask the U.S. government to impose additional sanctions on Russia and provide more weapons to Ukraine.
