The United States reached a separate agreement with Ukraine and Russia on Tuesday, March 25 to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea and impose a ban on attacks on each other’s energy facilities.
These agreements, if implemented, would represent the most obvious progress, but in Washington regard it as a stepping stone toward peace talks to end Russia’s three-year war in Ukraine.
In a statement, the White House confirmed that each country agreed to ensure safe navigation, avoid the use of force, and prevent commercial ships from being used in military use in the Black Sea.
Commenting on the development, Zelenskyy asserted that Ukraine would maintain part of its agreement and push for further sanctions, and could provide weapons to Ukraine if Russia fails to do so.
“If the Russians violate this, then I have a direct problem with President Trump,” Zelenskyy told reporters in Kiev.
“If they violate it, it’s evidence – we ask for sanctions, we ask for weapons,” he said.
“We will need clear assurances. Given the sad experience of the agreement with Kyiv, the assurance can only be the result of an order from Washington to Zelenskyy and his team, not another thing,” said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Ukraine and Russia have been in war for more than three years, with thousands of casualties recorded since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
