Russia, Ukraine agree to ensure safe navigation, end military action in Black Sea: US

In a big development, the United States on Tuesday said that it has reached separate agreements with Russia and Ukraine to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea.

The Trump-led administration said that Russia and Ukraine have "agreed to ensure safe navigation" while eliminating the use of force, and "prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea."

Moscow and Kyiv also agreed to pause attacks against energy targets as the three-day US-brokered talks in Saudi Arabia come to an end.

"The United States reiterated to both sides President Donald J. Trump’s imperative that the killing on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine conflict must stop, as the necessary step toward achieving an enduring peace settlement," the White House said in a statement.

The US agreement with Russia commits to reverse sanctions on Russia's agriculture and fertiliser exports.

"The United States will help restore Russia’s access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions," the statement said.

Taking to X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a video message said that how Russia behaves in the coming days will reveal a lot. "If there are air raid alerts again, if there is renewed military activity in the Black Sea, if Russian manipulations and threats continue—then new measures will need to be taken, specifically against Moscow," he said.

"Now, results are needed from Russia. We do not trust them. And frankly—the world doesn’t trust Russia. And they must prove that they are truly ready to end the war—ready to stop lying to the world, to Donald Trump, and to America," he added.

On the other hand, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov demanded clear guarantees. He also stated that Moscow had sad experience of agreements with Kyiv.