Zelenskyj Positive after peace call • USA: Agree on ceasefire in the Black Sea
Ukraine and Russia have agreed on a ceasefire in the Black Sea, the White House announces.
The agreement is a step in the right direction according to Volodymyr Zelenskyj – at the same time, the Kremlin comes with requirements for the ceasefire to be initiated.
The White House’s message comes after the recent days’ talks in Saudi Arabia, where negotiations between the United States and Russia, and the US and Ukraine have been held.
In two parallel statements, the White House states that both Russia and Ukraine have agreed to avoid attacks against each other in the Black Sea. The countries have agreed to “ensure safe shipping, eliminate the use of violence and to prevent the use of merchant vessels for military purposes” in the area.
“It’s a step in the right direction,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj at a press conference in Kiev, and states that Ukraine will “do her job” to maintain the agreement with the United States.
He also hopes that the ceasefire will start immediately.
Russian requirement
At the same time, requirements are presented from the Kremlin for them to agree to the agreement. According to a statement that the AFP news agency has taken part in, they state that the ceasefire can come into force only after the United States lifted sanctions on Russian agriculture.
In its statement the White House, the White House states that the United States will facilitate Russian agricultural exports.
“The United States will help Russia again gain access to the world market regarding exports of agricultural products and fertilizers,” a statement states.
Ukraine calls for more calls
At the same time, Ukraine warns Russia to move its combat vessels outside the eastern part of the Black Sea. In a post on Facebook, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov believes that such an activity would be counted as violating the agreement.
“Then Ukraine has a full right to exercise the right to self -defense,” he writes in the post, according to AFP.
The Minister of Defense also states that he wants to see more calls to review the details of the agreement, including how the agreement should be implemented and controlled.