The Russian-Ukrainian armistice in the Black Sea announced by the US and the suspension of strikes on energy infrastructure of the conflicting parties will only come into effect after the Western restrictions on Russian exports of cereals and fertilizers are lifted, the Kremlin warns in a statement released Tuesday night, as reported by Agerpres.
The United States announced on Tuesday that it has reached separate agreements with Ukraine and Russia to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea and a limited ceasefire in which the two countries will reciprocally cease attacks on energy infrastructure elements.
In the agreement reached with Moscow, Washington commits to contributing to the restoration of Russian exports of cereals and fertilizers, restricted after Western sanctions were imposed following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
A statement issued by the Kremlin after this announcement confirms that the US and Russia have agreed on “ensuring the security of navigation in the Black Sea, refraining from the use of force and preventing the use of commercial ships for military purposes.”
Russia: First, lifting sanctions, then ceasefire in the Black Sea
However, the statement from the Russian presidency emphasizes that, in order to implement the agreement on the partial ceasefire, Moscow first expects the “lifting of sanctions”, especially those imposed on the major Russian agricultural bank Rosselkhozbank (i.e. reconnecting it to the SWIFT system) and some Russian producers and exporters of food products and fertilizers. Additionally, Moscow demands the repeal of sanctions targeting companies that provide insurance services for maritime transport.
Other requirements mentioned in the statement from the Russian presidency pertain to the removal of restrictions on financial transactions related to Russian foreign trade operations, port services, and Russian vessels used for exports of cereals and fertilizers.
According to the Kremlin, Russia and the US will develop measures to implement the partial ceasefire, in which Russia and Ukraine will cease attacks on the energy infrastructure of the opposing party.
Moscow considers that this ceasefire was agreed upon for a period of 30 days, but with retroactive effect from March 18, the date of the last telephone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump.