Kremlin sets conditions for safe Black Sea shipping

Ukraine agreed, but made a military announcement: Russian warships must not appear in the western half of the Black Sea, otherwise they would be attacked. The sides also disagree on stopping mutual attacks on energy facilities. Here are questions and answers following the negotiations between the USA and representatives of Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia:

What did the US communicate after the talks?

From Sunday evening to Tuesday, US negotiators held talks in the Saudi capital Riyadh - once for twelve hours with a delegation from Moscow, and before and after with a delegation from Kiev. The White House published a statement on each strand of these talks. Only the similar wording makes it clear that these were agreements between Russia and Ukraine.

The intention was to refrain from using force against ships in the Black Sea. Furthermore, merchant ships should not be used for military purposes.

Individually, the USA promised to support Russia in the export of grain and fertilizers by sea. This included lower insurance rates and simplified payment of port fees. If the Russia sanctions are weakened to this extent, it would be a significant victory for Moscow.

What is the situation on the Black Sea?

Unlike on land, the military situation at sea has already changed in Ukraine's favor in 2023. The Russian Black Sea Fleet lost many ships due to Ukrainian naval drones; since then, it has been operating closer to its own mainland coast.

In the summer of 2023, Russia terminated the Black Sea Initiative, which had been brokered by Turkey and the United Nations, because it felt its own interests were not being safeguarded. Ukraine then successfully opened its own sea corridor to Odessa to export grain - without Moscow's security guarantee. In 2024, the Ukrainian ports handled almost 100 million tons of cargo.

The UK, among others, helped to keep insurance for these shipments cheap. Odessa and other Ukrainian ports are threatened above all by Russian drone and missile attacks from the Crimean peninsula. On March 11, a cargo ship flying the flag of Barbados was hit in Odessa; four Syrian sailors lost their lives.

What are the Russian demands?

In a departure from the USA and Ukraine, the Kremlin announced that Russia would only implement the agreement on safe shipping if far-reaching sanctions were lifted. For example, the Russian state agricultural bank and other financial institutions are to regain access to the international financial telecommunications system Swift.

Moscow is also demanding an end to the embargo on the import of agricultural technology and other goods necessary for the production of food and fertilizer. Sanctions against ports and ships flying the Russian flag and transporting fishery products, for example, are also to be lifted.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on state television that Moscow wanted to use the sea route for its grain and fertilizer transports - without the risk of being attacked.

However, nothing is known about Ukrainian attacks on civilian ships calling at Russia. In addition to the export of grain, the safe export of oil via the Black Sea is particularly important for Moscow.

The USA would have to reach agreements with the EU and other countries to ease the sanctions against Russia. Selensky criticized Moscow's preconditions. "We consider this to be a weakening of positions and a weakening of sanctions," he said in Kiev.

What about the halt to attacks on energy facilities?

A ceasefire limited to 30 days was the reason for the negotiations in Saudi Arabia, but there are doubts as to whether it will be implemented. It was only mentioned in passing in the official announcements. The statements from Washington stated that there was agreement to develop measures for its implementation.

In contrast, the Kremlin stated that this agreement had been adhered to since March 18 - i.e. since a telephone call between US President Donald Trump and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. However, Russia has recently stepped up its airstrikes on civilian targets in Ukraine.

Selensky described the meetings in Riyadh as the right step. However, he does not expect the partial ceasefire to be implemented without problems. "How Russia behaves in the coming days will reveal a lot, if not everything," he said in an evening video message. "If there are more air alerts, more military activity in the Black Sea, more Russian manipulations and threats, then new measures will have to be taken - against Moscow."

The USA promised Ukraine that it would continue to work for the return of captured soldiers and civilians and abducted children from Russia.