Moscow, Kyiv reach naval ceasefire in Black Sea

KABUL (Pajhwok): In separate agreements with the United States, Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a naval ceasefire in the Black Sea, media reports said on Wednesday.

All parties would continue working toward a lasting peace, the US said after three days of talks with Russia and Ukraine in Riyadh.

As a result of the deals, an important trade route will reopen, safe navigation will be ensured and the use of commercial vessels for military purposes prohibited.

In a statement reported by TASS, the Kremlin said the Black Sea initiative included guaranteeing safe navigation in the Black Sea and establishing appropriate control measures through inspections of vessels.

The BBC, citing a White House statement, said the parties committed to “develop measures” to enforce a previously agreed ban on attacking each other’s energy infrastructure.

However, Moscow explained the naval truce would be implemented only after a number of sanctions against its food and fertiliser trade were lifted.

Addressing a news conference in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the agreement on ending strikes in the Black Sea as a step in the right direction.

With regard to lifting the curbs on Russia, US President Donald Trump told journalists: “We’re thinking about all of them right now. We’re looking at them.”

PAN Monitor/mud