Riyadh: The United States has facilitated an agreement aimed at ensuring the safe passage of vessels in the Black Sea, following three days of discussions with Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Saudi Arabia. The negotiations, held in Riyadh, were part of ongoing efforts to explore steps toward de-escalation in the three-year war in Ukraine.
According to the White House, separate meetings were held with Ukrainian and Russian representatives. As a result, the sides committed to maintaining secure navigation in the Black Sea, preventing the use of force in the area, and ensuring that commercial vessels are not exploited for military purposes.
While specific details of the agreement remain undisclosed, it appears to revive elements of a 2022 deal—initially brokered by the United Nations and Turkey—which allowed Ukraine to export goods via its Black Sea ports. That agreement collapsed last year after Russia withdrew, citing concerns about the safety of its own exports.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov indicated that Moscow is open to restoring the agreement, provided that Russian interests are safeguarded. Addressing those concerns, the White House acknowledged plans to assist Russia in regaining access to global agricultural and fertilizer markets, lowering maritime insurance costs, and improving port access and financial transactions for such exports.
Additionally, the White House noted that measures are being developed to enforce an agreement, reportedly reached in a recent phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This agreement includes restrictions on attacks against energy infrastructure in both Russia and Ukraine. However, while the U.S. emphasized a broad prohibition on targeting infrastructure, the Kremlin suggested the agreement only covered energy-related facilities.
The Riyadh discussions—held without direct negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian officials—are part of an effort to establish a temporary halt in hostilities. Last week, Moscow and Kyiv tentatively agreed to a limited 30-day ceasefire, but ongoing drone and missile strikes by both sides continue to complicate its implementation.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the results of the U.S.-Russia talks were being analyzed in both Washington and Moscow, but no further details would be publicly disclosed. While he acknowledged that dialogue is expected to continue, no specific follow-up meetings have been scheduled. He also noted that, while there are currently no plans for another Trump-Putin conversation, such a call could be arranged if necessary.
Russian lawmaker Grigory Karasin, who participated in the Riyadh discussions, described the talks as “intense, difficult, but constructive,” emphasizing that negotiations lasted from morning until late at night.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of continuing drone attacks on civilian energy infrastructure, including a strike on a power line linked to the Rostov nuclear power plant and an attack on a gas distribution station in Russian-occupied Luhansk. The ministry criticized Zelenskyy, claiming he was incapable of upholding agreements and making it difficult for international mediators to ensure compliance.
In Ukraine, the aftermath of a Russian missile strike on Sumy—a city near the Russian border—continued to unfold. The Sumy regional administration confirmed that 101 people, including 23 children, had been injured in Monday’s attack, which targeted residential buildings and a school.
Additionally, Ukrainian officials reported that Russian forces launched a series of overnight assaults, including one ballistic missile and 139 long-range attack and decoy drones. The strikes affected seven regions across Ukraine, causing further injuries and damage.
