The United States brokered separate agreements on Tuesday, March 25, with Ukraine and Russia to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea and impose a ban on attacks against each other’s energy infrastructure.
If upheld, these agreements would mark the most significant step toward a broader ceasefire, which Washington views as a potential pathway to peace talks aimed at ending Russia’s three-year war in Ukraine.
In a statement, the White House confirmed that both countries had committed to guaranteeing safe navigation, refraining from the use of force, and preventing commercial vessels from being repurposed for military use in the Black Sea.
Reacting to the deal, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy affirmed Ukraine’s commitment to the agreement but warned that if Russia failed to comply, Kyiv would demand further sanctions and call on U.S. President Donald Trump to provide additional military support.
“If the Russians violate this, then I have a direct question for President Trump,” Zelenskyy told reporters in Kyiv. “If they break the agreement, here is the evidence—we ask for sanctions, we ask for weapons.”
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized the need for concrete assurances. “We will need clear guarantees. Given the unfortunate history of agreements with just Kyiv, those guarantees must come as a direct order from Washington to Zelenskyy and his team to act accordingly,” Lavrov stated.
The war between Ukraine and Russia has continued for over three years, with thousands of casualties since Russia’s invasion in 2022.
