Russia & Ukraine Agree to Pause Black Sea Hostilities

The Kremlin agreed to cease fighting in the Black Sea region, pending a limited lift of sanctions related to Russian agricultural exports, and reintroduction to international payment system used in the West.

The Trump administration is likely to approve Moscow’s requests, and looks poised to benefit politically from the simultaneous rearmament of Europe.

Sources & Excerpts
  • White House Says Russia and Ukraine Agree to Stop Fighting in Black Sea 🔗

    "Ukraine and Russia had agreed to cease fighting in the Black Sea and to hash out the details for halting strikes on energy facilities. It would be the first significant step toward the full cease-fire the Trump Administration had been pushing, but it still would fall short of that goal and it remains unclear how and when this limited truce would be implemented.

    Both Ukraine and Russia confirmed the agreement, although it appeared to come with some serious caveats on the part of Moscow.

    ...the Kremlin said it would honor the agreement only after its state agriculture bank is reconnected to the international payment system and restrictions are lifted on “trade finance operations,” which are some of the penalties imposed after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

    In a statement about the U.S.-Russia talks, the White House appeared to agree with at least some of the conditions, saying it “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.”"