Kyiv and Moscow agree to cease hostilities in the Black Sea while Washington will help Moscow resume exporting its agricultural products and fertilizers to global markets

Russia and Ukraine agreed on Tuesday to a cessation of hostilities in the Black Sea, according to a statement from Washington, which expressed its willingness to help Moscow resume exports of its agricultural products and fertilizers to global markets.

However, the Kremlin set a condition that appears to have been unmet, stating that the agreement wouldn’t enter into force until Western restrictions on the commercial export of Russian grain and fertilizers were lifted.

Moscow and Kyiv agreed to ensure the security of navigation in the Black Sea, refrain from the use of force, and avoid the use of commercial vessels for military purposes, according to two separate White House statements about the recent US-mediated talks in Saudi Arabia.

Kyiv pledged to implement Washington’s declarations, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described as good measures.

It was agreed to involve third parties in supervising the truce, a move praised by Russia.

Regarding Ukraine, the United States pledged to support efforts to exchange prisoners, free civilians, and return Ukrainian children who were victims of forced displacement.

On another context, the United States said Tuesday it will support Russian fertilizer exports, after imposing agricultural sanctions.

“The United States will help Russia regain access to the global market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, reduce shipping insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for these and similar transactions,” a White House statement said following talks on the war in Saudi Arabia.

Thus, Russia can now rely on the United States to regain access to the global market for Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports, reduce the cost of maritime insurance, and improve access to ports and payment systems associated with these deals, fulfilling one of Moscow’s key conditions following the severe sanctions imposed following its invasion of Ukraine.

However, the Ukrainian president denounced these measures at a press conference, believing they would weaken the sanctions.

Zelensky said that these measures weren’t on our agenda and were raised by the American side during the negotiations in Riyadh.

For its part, the Kremlin noted that the United States and Russia are working on preparing measures to implement a 30-day truce during which Moscow and Kyiv would halt their bombing of energy facilities.

The Kremlin indicated Tuesday evening that this truce, which was discussed during talks with the United States, specifically concerns refineries, gas pipelines, and power plants.

Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump announced a 30-day truce on March 18, but it hasn’t been implemented amid mutual accusations between Kyiv and Moscow of continuing attacks.

In Paris, the French presidency considered the agreements announced by the White House on Tuesday to be a step in the right direction, but insufficient to achieve a permanent and lasting ceasefire.

During the talks, the United States reaffirmed Trump’s commitment to putting an end to the killing on both sides.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustam Umarov called for additional technical consultations to determine the details of the agreements announced by the White House.

The Ukrainian defense minister warned that any movement of Russian warships in the Black Sea off Ukraine would constitute a violation of the cessation of hostilities agreement.

Between July 2022 and July 2023, an agreement brokered by Turkey and the United Nations allowed Ukraine to export its grain products, which many countries around the world rely on, despite the presence of the Russian fleet in the region.

The Black Sea grain transit agreement ended when Russia withdrew, accusing the West of failing to honor its commitments to ease sanctions on Russian exports.

Ukraine has established a sea corridor for the safe export of its products since 2023, but Russian attacks on the port of Odessa and its ships haven’t stopped.

On the other hand, Kyiv accuses Moscow of stalling to take advantage of its forces’ advances on the front.

During the talks in Riyadh, the United States repeatedly emphasized that President Donald Trump insists on an end to hostilities by both sides.

Since the Washington-sponsored talks began on Sunday, US shuttle diplomacy between the two sides hasn’t led to the announcement of a comprehensive truce.