{"id":28376,"date":"2025-03-26T02:19:01","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T00:19:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=28376"},"modified":"2025-03-26T02:20:42","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T00:20:42","slug":"us-brokers-black-sea-ceasefire-agreement-between-russia-and-ukraine-following-separate-talks-in-riyadh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/us-brokers-black-sea-ceasefire-agreement-between-russia-and-ukraine-following-separate-talks-in-riyadh\/","title":{"rendered":"US brokers Black Sea ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine following separate talks in Riyadh"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

8 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After three days of separate meetings involving American, Russian, and Ukrainian delegations in Riyadh, the U.S. announced that it had brokered an agreement between Russia and Ukraine to halt military activity over the Black Sea, raising cautious hopes for a pause in the ongoing war in Ukraine.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The White House announced the initial agreement to halt military activity over the Black Sea and ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea\u00a0as the U.S. wrapped up three days of separate talks with Russian and UKrainian delegations Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on March 25, 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While no direct contact occurred between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators, U.S. officials have continued to act as intermediaries, holding back-to-back discussions with both sides to broker a limited ceasefire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Saudi-hosted diplomatic marathon is an ambitious attempt to secure a 30-day ceasefire<\/mark><\/a> in a conflict that has entered its third year and shows little sign of abating. Both Russia and Ukraine reportedly agreed to the ceasefire in principle last week, but sharp divergences over its scope and execution have hampered progress. Even during the talks, hostilities continued on both sides, with drone and missile strikes escalating across several regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


US claims it brokered Black Sea ceasefire deal<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The United States announced that it struck two agreement with Ukraine and Russia to stop fighting and ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea. Both countries \u201chave agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea,\u201d according to the White House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the Kremlin stated that the Black Sea deal could only proceed if sanctions on the Russian Agricultural Bank and other entities involved in food and fertilizer trade are lifted. The White House, while not confirming the lifting of sanctions, said the U.S. \u201cwill help restore Russia\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kirill Dmitriev, Putin\u2019s envoy for investment and economic cooperation, hailed the the talks as a \u201cmajor shift toward peace, enhanced global food security and essential grain supplies for over 100 million additional people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Ukraine\u2019s<\/a>
Ukraine\u2019s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 19, 2025, amid the Russian attack on Ukraine. (Image Credit: Reuters)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

While a complete peace deal still looked distant, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the talks as the early \u201cright steps\u201d toward a peaceful settlement. \u201cThese are the first steps \u2014 not the very first but initial ones \u2014 with this presidential administration toward completely ending the war and the possibility of a full ceasefire, as well as steps toward a sustainable and fair peace agreement,\u201d Zelenskyy said at a news conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While details of the deal were not disclosed, it seems to represent another effort to secure safe Black Sea shipping, following a 2022 agreement brokered by the UN and Turkey, which Russia halted the following year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Key Highlights of US agreements with Russia and Ukraine on Black Sea<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. statements, issued after separate talks with Russian and Ukrainian officials in Riyadh, differed in two key areas. The U.S. agreed to help Russia access global markets for fertilizer<\/mark><\/a> and agricultural exports. For Ukraine, the U.S. confirmed its support in facilitating the exchange of prisoners of war<\/mark><\/a>, civilian detainees, and kidnapped children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the two separate statements issued by the White House:<\/p>\n\n\n\n