Negotiation success? Kreml scores out on a safe Black Sea shipping

The warring parties Russia and Ukraine have known themselves under US mediation for the security of civil shipping on the Black Sea-however, the implementation of the agreement is unclear. Russia ties in its promise to many conditions and tries to get started with the abolition of western sanctions.

Ukraine agreed, but made a military announcement: Russian warships should not appear in the western half of the Black Sea, otherwise they would be attacked. The sides are disagreed with a stop of the mutual attacks on energy systems. After the United States’ negotiations with representatives of Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia, many questions remain unanswered.

What did the United States communicate after the talks?

From Sunday evening to Tuesday, US negotiators in the Saudi capital Riyadh-once twelve hours with a delegation from Moscow for twelve hours, previously and then with a delegation from Kiev. The White House published an explanation for every strand of these conversations. Only the similar wording shows that these are agreements between Russia and Ukraine.

It was said to be dispensed with violence against ships on the Black Sea. Commercial ships should also not be used for military purposes.

Individually, the United States agreed to support Russia in exporting grain and fertilizers on the sea route. This included lower insurance rates and a simplified payment of port fees. If the Russia sanctions are weakened, that would be a significant victory for Moscow.

How is the location on the Black Sea?

Unlike on land, the military location at sea changed in favor of Ukraine in 2023. The Russian Black Sea fleet lost many ships through Ukrainian seed roars; Since then, she operates poet in front of her own mainland coast.

In the summer of 2023, Russia announced the Black Sea Initiative, which came about under the mediation of Türkiye and the United Nations, because it did not see its own interests. Ukraine then successfully opened its own sea corridor to Odessa to export grain – without a Moscow security guarantee. In 2024, the Ukrainian ports converted almost 100 million tons of freight.

Among other things, Great Britain helped to keep insurance for this transport cheaply. Odessa and other Ukrainian ports threaten danger primarily by Russian drone and rocket attacks from the Crimea peninsula. On March 11, a cargo ship was hit under the flag of Barbados in Odessa; Four Syrian seafarers were killed.

What are the Russian demands?

In deviation from the USA and Ukraine, the Kremlin announced that Russia would only implement the agreement for safe shipping if far -reaching sanctions were lifted. The Russian state agricultural bank and other monetary houses are to be given access to the international finance telecommunications system Swift.

Moscow also requires the end of the embargo to import agricultural technology and other goods that are necessary for the production of food and fertilizer. Sanctions against ports and against ships that drive under Russian flag and transport fishing products are also to be lifted.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on state television that Moscow wanted to use the sea route for his grain and fertilizer transports- without the risk of being attacked.

Nothing is known about Ukrainian attacks on civil ships that start Russia. In addition to the export of cereals, safe oil exports over the Black Sea are particularly important for Moscow.

The United States would have to make agreements with the EU and other countries to relax against Russia. The Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj criticized the Moscow preconditions. « We consider this to weaken the positions and weakening the sanctions, » he said in Kiev.

What about the stop for attacks on energy systems?

Such a fire break limited to 30 days was the reason for the negotiations in Saudi Arabia, but there are doubts about a realization. In the official messages, she only appeared marginally. It was agreed to develop measures to implement their implementation, the statements from Washington said.

Again deviating, the Kremlin announced that this agreement has been adhered to since March 18-so since a telephone call from US President Donald Trump With Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. However, Russia has recently reinforced its air raids on civilians in Ukraine.

Selenskyj described the meetings in Riad as the right step. However, he does not expect unproblematic implementation of the partial arms rest. « How Russia will behave in the coming days will be a lot, if not everything, » he said in an evening video message. « If there are more air -alarms, more military activities in the Black Sea, more Russian manipulations and threats, then new measures have to be taken – against Moscow. »

The United States promised Ukraine to continue to work for the return of captured soldiers and civilians and kidnapped children from Russia.