Russia, Ukraine agree to avoid military strikes on Black Sea vessels

Russia and Ukraine have separately agreed to avoid military strikes on vessels in the Black Sea following talks in Saudi Arabia, the White House said Tuesday.

In simultaneous statements, the White House confirmed that both nations “agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.”

In addition, the U.S. and Ukraine agreed to continue working toward a “durable and lasting” peace.

The countries further reached an understanding to implement U.S. President Donald Trump’s and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s agreement to ban strikes against energy facilities in both Russia and Ukraine, according to the White House.

“The United States and Ukraine welcome the support of third countries in implementing the energy and maritime agreements,” the statement added.

Reiterating the need to end the violence in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the White House said the U.S. would continue to facilitate negotiations toward a peaceful resolution based on agreements reached in Riyadh.

Separately, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, part of Kyiv’s delegation, confirmed the agreement’s terms in a Facebook post.

He emphasized that Kyiv would consider any movement of Russian military vessels in the eastern Black Sea as a violation of the agreement and a “threat to Ukraine’s national security.”

“In such a case, Ukraine will exercise its full right to self-defense,” Umerov said, urging additional technical consultations to finalize the remaining details of the agreement for effective implementation.

US to support Russia agriculture exports

Meanwhile, the United States said Tuesday it would support Russian fertilizer exports, addressing one of Moscow’s grievances following extensive sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine.

“The United States will help restore Russia’s access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and improve access to ports and payment systems for such transactions,” the White House said in a statement following the talks.