The White House has announced that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to cease military operations in the Black Sea following U.S.-mediated negotiations.
From Sunday to Tuesday, the White House held working-level talks between the U.S. and Russia in Saudi Arabia, aiming to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine. In a press release, the White House outlined the results of these discussions.
According to the statement, the U.S. and Russia have agreed to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea, refrain from using force, and prohibit the use of commercial vessels for military purposes.
The Kremlin also confirmed its commitment to the agreement, stating that it will establish control measures to enforce the ban on using merchant ships for military activities.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense expressed its support for the U.S.-Russia agreement on the social media platform X, affirming that all parties had committed to safe navigation, non-use of force, and restrictions on the military use of commercial vessels.
The three nations also agreed to implement measures supporting a recent accord between President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Putin to suspend mutual attacks on energy infrastructure for 30 days.
The White House stated that the U.S. will help restore Russia’s access to global agricultural products and fertilizer markets. This includes lowering maritime insurance costs and improving access to ports and payment systems.
The U.S. negotiating team facilitated the agreement by holding separate meetings with Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
