White House declares Russia-Ukraine Black Sea ceasefire
The White House has declared a ceasefire in the Black Sea region between Russia and Ukraine. The United States announced that a consensus has been achieved to facilitate secure navigation in the Black Sea, concluding three days of discussions on Tuesday with delegations from Ukraine and Russia in Saudi Arabia regarding potential measures for peace. U.S. experts engaged in distinct discussions with representatives from Ukraine and Russia in Riyadh, leading to the White House releasing separate joint statements regarding the dialogues with each nation.
The parties have reached a consensus to guarantee safe navigation, abolish the application of force, and avert the utilization of commercial vessels for military objectives in the Black Sea. The specifics of the potential agreement remain undisclosed; however, it seems to signify a resurgence of a 2022 arrangement aimed at guaranteeing secure passage through Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. This prior accord was facilitated by the United Nations and Turkey but was subsequently suspended by Russia in the ensuing year. Russia has indicated that the agreement did not adequately guarantee the safety of its exports from the Black Sea. In televised remarks on Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov indicated that Moscow remains amenable to the reinstatement of the agreement, while emphasizing the necessity of safeguarding Russian interests.
The White House statement regarding discussions with Russia suggests a willingness to facilitate Russia’s reintegration into global markets for agricultural and fertilizer exports. It highlights intentions to reduce maritime insurance costs and improve access to ports and payment systems for these transactions. The statement from the White House indicated that the involved parties have consented to formulate strategies for executing an accord established during discussions between President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, aimed at prohibiting attacks on energy infrastructure in both Russia and Ukraine.
Following the recent call between Trump and Putin, the White House announced that the partial ceasefire would encompass a cessation of attacks on “energy and infrastructure.” In contrast, the Kremlin specified that the agreement pertained more specifically to “energy infrastructure.” In a recent statement, a Kremlin official indicated that discussions held between US and Russian representatives in Riyadh the day prior are expected to pave the way for additional interactions between Washington and Moscow; however, it was noted that no definitive arrangements have been established at this time.
The three days of discussions — which excluded direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine — are aimed at delineating the specifics of a potential partial cessation in the ongoing conflict that has persisted for three years in Ukraine. The negotiation for a modest, 30-day ceasefire has proven challenging, as Moscow and Kyiv tentatively reached an agreement last week, yet both parties persist in their offensive operations utilizing drones and missiles. Anticipated future engagements between the United States and Russia. On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed reporters that the results of the US-Russia discussions in Riyadh “have been reported in the capitals” and are presently being “analysed” by both Moscow and Washington. However, he indicated that the Kremlin does not intend to disclose additional details of the discussions to the public.
Peskov indicated that the discussions are of a technical nature, involving a deep dive into specifics. He noted that, although there are no immediate plans for a conversation between Trump and Putin, such a dialogue could be arranged swiftly should the situation demand it. Peskov stated, “There is an acknowledgment that the communications will persist, yet currently, there are no definitive arrangements in place.” He stated that there are currently no intentions to convene a trilateral meeting involving Russia, the United States, and Ukraine. Grigory Karasin, a senior Russian lawmaker involved in the recent Russia-US discussions in Riyadh, characterized the dialogue as “very interesting, difficult, but quite constructive,” according to the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. “We engaged in discussions throughout the entire day, from morning until late at night,” Karasin was reported by the agency on Tuesday.
The Russian Defence Ministry reported on Tuesday that Ukraine has persistently engaged in targeted drone strikes aimed at Russia’s civilian energy infrastructure. On Monday, a Ukrainian drone strike resulted in the disruption of a high-voltage power line that connects the Rostov nuclear power plant to the city of Tikhoretsk in the southern Krasnodar region, according to the ministry. Additionally, another drone attack targeted the Svatovo gas distribution station located in the Russia-occupied Ukrainian region of Luhansk. The ministry stated that Zelenskyy has acknowledged his failure to adhere to agreements, thereby rendering it unfeasible for external guarantors of any prospective accords to exert control over him.
In Ukraine, the tally of individuals injured on Monday due to a Russian missile strike in the center of Sumy has increased to 101, which includes 23 children, as reported by the Sumy regional administration. The recent strike on Sumy, located adjacent to Russia’s Kursk region—partially occupied by Ukraine since August—targeted residential buildings and a school, necessitating an evacuation in response to the assault.
In the latest developments, Russian military operations included the launch of one ballistic missile alongside 139 long-range strike and decoy drones targeting Ukraine, as reported by the Ukrainian air force. The assaults impacted seven regions of Ukraine, resulting in injuries to numerous individuals.
