Russia and the US have agreed to develop measures to stop attacks on Russian and Ukrainian energy facilities. The moratorium is set for 30 days with the possibility of extension and will come into effect on March 18. This is according to an official statement published on the Kremlin’s website, which follows consultations between Moscow and Washington in Riyadh. The White House had previously released its own statement on the matter.
“Russia and the United States have agreed to develop measures to implement the agreements of the presidents of the two countries on the prohibition of strikes against Russian and Ukrainian energy facilities for a period of 30 days, starting on March 18, 2025, with the possibility of extension and withdrawal from the agreement in the event of non-compliance by one of the parties” the Kremlin statement reads.
The so-called Black Sea Initiative, which guaranteed the secure export of grain and Russian fertilizer products from Ukrainian ports, will reportedly be revived. The parties have agreed to ensure the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative, which includes the guarantee of the safety of shipping in the Black Sea, the non-use of force and the prevention of the use of commercial ships for military purposes, with “appropriate control measures through inspections of such ships” required.
Additionally, it was agreed that the US will contribute to the restoration of Russian agricultural and fertilizer products’ access to the global market, reducing the costs of shipping insurance and improving access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.
For the implementation of these agreements, numerous sanctions and other restrictions will need to be lifted. The following sanctions and restrictions must be abolished:
Against the Rosselkhozbank and other financial institutions involved in international trade in food (including fishery products) and fertilizer, including their connection to SWIFT and the opening of the necessary correspondent accounts; against trade financing transactions; against manufacturers and exporters of food (including fishery products) and fertilizer, as well as for insurance companies working with food and fertilizer shipments; against port services and against ships under the Russian flag involved in the trade of food and fertilizer; against the delivery of land machinery to the Russian Federation and of other goods used in the production of food and fertilizer.
In the context of the Black Sea Initiative, the so-called Grain Deal had previously been in effect, under which Russia had committed to ensuring the secure export of Ukrainian grain and fertilizer products from Ukrainian Black Sea ports to poorer countries. The agreement, signed in Istanbul on July 22, 2022, was in effect until Russia’s withdrawal on July 17, 2023. The reasons for the termination of the agreement were the non-fulfillment of Russia’s conditions for implementing the agreement and the diversion of the goods to richer countries. The Western partners of Ukraine were also suspected of smuggling weapons into Ukraine under the cover of grain transportation.
The conditions Russia demanded back then are nearly identical to what Russia now expects from the US for its re-entry into the initiative. After Russia’s withdrawal from the Grain Deal, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock repeatedly accused Russia of using hunger as a weapon.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry confirmed the agreement on X. Defense Minister and head of the Ukrainian negotiating team Rustem Umerov said that the parties had committed to ensuring the safe shipping in the Black Sea without the use of force and commercial ships for military purposes.
Ukraine stated that Russian warships are only allowed to operate in the eastern half of the sea. If Russian warships appear in the western half, Ukraine will use its right to self-defense. Umerov wrote: “Ukraine will consider the movement of Russian military ships beyond the eastern Black Sea as a security threat and reserves the right to self-defense.”
Shortly after the publication of the White House statement, Vladimir Zelenskyy addressed the press to explain Ukraine’s position. If Russia were to violate the agreement, he would ask Trump for weapons and sanctions against the Russian Federation. He claimed that the US would control the implementation of the agreements.
“The many clauses and the connection to the US position raise doubts about the sustainability of the agreements” comments the Russian Telegram channel for military analysis, Military Chronicle. The formulations are chosen in a way that allows Ukraine to reserve the possibility of withdrawing from the agreement under the pretext of a Russian violation. The mention of a “request to Trump for new sanctions and weapons” suggests that this, not a ceasefire, is Zelenskyy’s real goal.