U.S. Secures Black Sea Shipping Deal in Ukraine-Russia Talks/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The United States brokered an agreement ensuring safe commercial navigation in the Black Sea during three days of talks with Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Riyadh. The deal includes restrictions on military use of vessels and support for Russia’s agricultural exports. It comes amid wider efforts toward a partial Ukraine ceasefire.
Black Sea Deal Quick Looks
- U.S. secures agreement on safe shipping with Ukraine and Russia.
- Pact bans use of commercial vessels for military purposes.
- Talks in Riyadh included separate sessions with Ukrainian and Russian officials.
- U.S. to support Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports as part of deal.
- Agreement revives aspects of the suspended 2022 grain corridor pact.
- Trump, Putin, Zelenskyy also agreed to pause energy strikes.
- Ceasefire talks ongoing amid continued drone and missile attacks.
- Kremlin confirms talks were “constructive” but no future meeting scheduled.
- Over 100 injured in Russian missile strike on Ukraine’s Sumy region.
- Ukraine continues drone strikes on Russian energy facilities.
U.S. Secures Black Sea Shipping Deal in Ukraine-Russia Talks
Deep Look
The United States announced Tuesday it had brokered a key agreement to secure safe commercial shipping in the Black Sea, marking a tentative step toward de-escalation in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The announcement came as U.S. officials concluded three days of back-to-back talks with Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
According to the White House, both sides agreed to uphold principles of safe navigation, refrain from using force in the Black Sea, and prohibit the military use of commercial vessels. While full terms of the deal were not disclosed, it appears to be a partial revival of the 2022 Black Sea Grain Initiative, which had allowed Ukraine to export grain through its southern ports before being suspended by Russia in 2023.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed Moscow’s openness to the new agreement but emphasized that Russian interests must be protected. Reflecting this, the U.S. said it would work to facilitate Russia’s access to global markets for agricultural and fertilizer exports, reduce maritime insurance costs, and improve port access and payment options—concessions aimed at addressing Moscow’s long-standing grievances.
The agreement also advances a previously announced plan between President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to halt all strikes on energy infrastructure. While Trump’s administration says this includes broader energy and infrastructure targets, the Kremlin insists the ceasefire applies only to energy facilities.
Despite the breakthrough on shipping, the war rages on. Both Moscow and Kyiv continue drone and missile attacks, even as diplomatic efforts intensify. The Kremlin said further talks with Washington are likely, though no specific plans are in place for a three-way summit.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the Riyadh discussions as “technical negotiations with immersion in details.” He said the information is currently being analyzed in both capitals and noted that although no meeting is currently scheduled between Trump and Putin, one could be “quickly organized if necessary.”
Grigory Karasin, a senior Russian lawmaker who participated in the talks, called the meetings “difficult but constructive,” noting that discussions lasted from morning until late into the evening.
Fighting Continues on Both Sides
While diplomacy inches forward, the violence has not abated. The Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of continuing drone strikes on civilian energy infrastructure. A Monday attack reportedly brought down a high-voltage power line connecting the Rostov nuclear power plant to southern Russia’s Tikhoretsk, and another hit a gas distribution site in Luhansk, a Russian-occupied Ukrainian region.
Russia’s defense ministry harshly criticized Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, claiming he “cannot uphold agreements,” and accused Kyiv of making future enforcement by guarantor nations “impossible.”
On the Ukrainian side, fallout from a major Russian missile strike continues to unfold. The number of people injured in a Monday strike on the city of Sumy rose to 101, including 23 children, according to regional authorities. The missile hit residential buildings and a school, prompting emergency evacuations.
The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia launched one ballistic missile and 139 drones, including decoys, overnight. At least seven regions were affected, and injuries were reported in multiple areas.
Although a 30-day partial ceasefire was agreed to in principle last week, ongoing strikes from both sides underscore the fragile nature of the talks.
The agreement on Black Sea shipping, however, represents one of the most concrete diplomatic achievements in months. The deal is expected to help resume grain and goods shipments through Ukrainian ports such as Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Chornomorsk, while also providing assurances to Russian exporters.
Western analysts view the move as a signal that Trump’s administration is prioritizing trade stability in strategic regions like the Black Sea, even amid the broader military and geopolitical complexities of the war.
Meanwhile, humanitarian concerns continue to mount. Disruption of food exports from both Ukraine and Russia has driven up prices globally and increased food insecurity in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
What Comes Next?
With both sides still fighting and deeply distrustful, the current diplomatic effort appears focused on incremental agreements rather than an all-out peace accord. Still, the Black Sea pact may provide momentum for further talks—especially if it leads to reduced hostilities and safer trade routes.
Though the Trump administration touted this as a breakthrough, experts caution that the road to peace remains long and fraught.
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