A Fragile Agreement in the Black Sea: Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington Find Common Ground

After several days of negotiations in Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Russia, and the United States reached an agreement on Tuesday, March 25, to cease hostilities in the Black Sea. The goal is to ensure safe navigation, prevent the use of force, and prohibit the use of commercial vessels for military purposes, according to a statement from the White House.

This agreement marks a step toward de-escalation, as naval clashes in the Black Sea have been a significant aspect of the conflict. Since 2022, Ukraine has inflicted strategic losses on the Russian fleet, forcing the Kremlin to redeploy its ships. However, military vessel transit remains restricted due to Turkey’s closure of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits at the start of the invasion.

Prisoner Release and Energy Security

At the same time, the United States has committed to supporting efforts for prisoner exchanges and the release of civilians forcibly displaced, responding to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s request. He recently stated that the return of detainees was “a top priority” in the peace talks.

Regarding attacks on energy infrastructure, the three parties have agreed to develop concrete measures to enforce the agreement. However, recent strikes, including one on the Sudzha gas metering station in Russia’s Kursk region, show that implementing these commitments remains uncertain.

Moscow Conditions Its Commitment on Sanctions Relief

Another key aspect of the discussions concerns Russia’s access to international markets for its agricultural and fertilizer exports. Washington has promised to reduce maritime insurance costs and improve access to ports and payment systems. The Kremlin, for its part, insists on the lifting of sanctions targeting its agricultural bank Rosselkhozbank and its exporters.

For now, Kyiv remains firm: Volodymyr Zelensky refuses any easing of sanctions against Moscow. He also warned that any suspicious movement of Russian warships would constitute a violation of the agreement, justifying a Ukrainian response.

Ongoing Negotiations

This agreement does not mark the end of negotiations. Further discussions are planned to refine the details and seek a lasting resolution to the conflict. The United States has reiterated its commitment to ending the hostilities, while Russia is still analyzing the results of these negotiations.

While the Black Sea truce represents progress, its implementation will depend on the compromises each side is willing to make. For now, no new meeting date has been announced, and tensions on the ground remain high.