Russia and Ukraine agreed to Stop fighting in the Black Sea In a medium deal in the United States, but it is still unclear whether the agreement could be entered into force soon-at all.
Russia had a major warning: It will not adhere to the deal until after removing various restrictions from its agricultural exports. The United States and sanctions were imposed by the United States and the European Union, and its removal will be an arduous process.
Kyiv and Moscow seem to have various interpretations of the agreement announced on Tuesday. Russia Framing it As a way to revive the unnecessary 2022 deal, allowing it some control of commercial shipping across the sea. Kyiv, however, Insist The Russian Navy will not allow the Western Black Sea to return to the main export of the sea.
This confirms the lack of confidence between the two countries, and accused each side of violating the truce on Wednesday. Ukraine reported an attack on the city of Miklav in its port, while Moscow said it had shot down Ukrainian drones over the Black Sea.
Russia’s conditions highlighted how it is not in a hurry to end the war. With a sympathetic administration in the White House, and since its forces have the upper hand in the battlefield, Moscow has been designed to obtain the largest possible number of concessions.
What were Russia’s conditions?
the The Kremlin said You will not agree to the maritime ceasefire deal unless the agricultural banks of the country and other financial institutions participating in the Food and Fertilizers Trade with the international payment system known as Swift.
The system has its main headquarters in Belgium, which means that the United States will need pressure on European organizers to agree. in statement About the deal, the White House pledged to “help restore Russia’s arrival in the global market for agricultural exports and fertilizers.”
Moscow said it also wanted Western companies to hand over agricultural equipment to Russia, and the sanctions that were removed against their companies, ships and insurance companies participating in the food and fertilizer trade.
Russia says its exports of grains and fertilizers reached $ 45 billion in 2023. Even during the war, Russia was exporting large amounts of grains and fertilizers.
Alexander Coleander, an analyst at the European Policy Analysis Center, said if the sanctions are lifted against a Russian government bank, the Kremlin can be used in other transactions as well.
“At the moment you have a penal -free bank, you can use it for what you want,” said Mr. Coleander. “It can be a tool for breaking the penal system,” he said, but “it is much easier to monitor only one bank.”
What is Ukraine’s position?
While Kiev said that she would comply with the ceasefire, he is still skeptical of Moscow’s intentions.
President Voludmir Zelinski of Ukraine said on Tuesday that Russia’s request to lift sanctions showed that they were “already trying to distort agreements.”
Mr. Zelinski also said that the American commitment to help strengthen Russian agricultural exports was “weakening positions and weak sanctions.”
Looking at the demands of Russia and the various interpretations of the two sides of the deal, it is still unclear what Ukraine will gain. Experts note that the White House did not say whether the deal will protect the Ukrainian ports from Russian attacks and enable the reopening of the Mikolaev and Khairsson ports – Muttalaban to pay Ukraine during the negotiations.
Kiev also has no little interest in returning to the 2022 agreement that Russia wants to revive. The deal on Ukraine allowed the export of its pills through the agreed black sea lane, and Russia to inspect all the commercial ships to ensure that weapons are not carrying.
But Andrii Klymenko, head of the Black Sea Institute for Strategic Studies, said that the inspections were so late that they made the road unpopular.
After Russia retreated from the deal, Ukraine obtained its shipping corridor Paying the Russian navy from the western parts of the Black Sea. The exports of the cereal conveyed by the sea allowed To return to the levels close to the war.
What may happen next?
Last week, President Vladimir F. Putin from Russia to stop attacks against Ukrainian energy infrastructure for 30 days. Ukraine, which supported a full ceasefire, followed. On Tuesday, both countries confirmed their commitment to establish a 30 -day stop on energy strikes.
On Tuesday, Kremlin posted a list of facilities that fall under the endowment. The list includes oil refineries, pipelines, storage facilities, nuclear plants, photovoltaic dams and energy transmission infrastructure.
However, both sides circulated accusations against the energy network against each other during the past week, and it was unclear whether they could find a common ground soon. The most prominent situation is the ceasefire on energy, how Moscow was ready to withdraw the talks, and depicts itself as open to negotiations, but does not make any major concessions.
Rostat Omrov, Minister of Defense of Ukraine, He said on Tuesday “Additional Technical Consultations” must be held as soon as possible to effectively implement energy and sea agreements.
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