US report agreement between Russia and Ukraine on the Black Sea attack stop, Moscow demands concessions

Russia and Ukraine are again one step closer to a partially cease-fire. This time negotiations are being made on stopping military attacks on the Black Sea. The United States stated as a mediator on Tuesday that both countries signed an agreement. It is unclear when this ceasefires can start: after the announcement, the Kremlin demanded lifting of the heaviest sanctions against Russia. For example, the Russians should be connected again to the international banking system Swift.

This commitment is lacking in the document that the White House has published about the agreements with Russia. The document would have preceded more than twelve hours of negotiations. Washington says that the Moscow will help to access the world market with agricultural products and fertilizer. That is reminiscent of what the ‘grain deal’ was called.

After the Russian invasion, Russia was denied access to, among other things, the grain market and Russia blocked Ukrainian ports. To this end, the grain deal was closed in July 2022, which temporarily made the export of Ukrainian wheat possible via the Black Sea. The new agreement promises to « guarantee safe shipping, to end violence and to prevent commercial ships for military purposes being used on the Black Sea. »

It is too early to say that this works, but they are the right steps

Ukraine agreed earlier on Tuesday with the new, partial cease-fire. The Ukrainian President VolodyMyr Zenskyria reacted carefully. « It’s too early to say that this works, but they are the right steps, » he told reporters in Kyiv. If Russia violates the agreement, Zensky will « directly » ask US President Donald Trump for « sanctions (against Russia) and weapons. » With regard to Zensky, the partial file can take effect immediately.

The Ukrainian defense minister Roestem Oemerov writes in a statement on social media that « the relocation of Russian military ships beyond the eastern Black Sea is understood by Ukraine as a violation of the spirit of the agreement ».

Energy attacks

Another partially cease-fire was agreed last Tuesday after President Trump made with Vladimir Putin. Prior to that conversation, Ukraine was put under great pressure to agree with a 30-day unconditional, overall ceasefire. Russia did not agree with this and presented an attack stop for energy facilities for one month. Since then the question was when this would go exactly. Even on the evening itself, such attacks were exchanged.

On Tuesday evening, Russia stated that the attack stop applies on March 18, and is therefore a quarter past. It decided to stop attacking everything that has to do with oil and gas, including pumping stations, and the spare of electricity, hydropower and nuclear power plants.

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