Russia Links Black Sea Ceasefire to Sanctions Relief Demands

On Tuesday, Russia announced that a U.S.-mediated deal to cease military activities in the Black Sea would take effect only after certain sanctions are lifted, including those aimed at the country’s state-owned agricultural bank.

Earlier, the White House indicated that both Russia and Ukraine had consented to «eliminate the use of force» in the Black Sea following separate discussions held in Saudi Arabia with both parties.

The U.S. statement made no reference to lifting sanctions, instead emphasizing efforts to help restore «access to the world market» for Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports.

The Kremlin stated that the ceasefire would begin only once sanctions against Rosselkhozbank and other financial institutions involved in international food and fertilizer trade are removed.

It also demanded that these institutions be reconnected to the SWIFT payment system, which some Russian banks have been barred from accessing.

While the West has not specifically sanctioned Russian agricultural activities, Moscow has consistently argued that restrictions on shipping insurance and sanctions against Rosselkhozbank—critical for financing agribusiness—have hindered its export capabilities.

Later that day, U.S. President Donald Trump remarked that his administration would review the Kremlin’s requests regarding the ceasefire in the Black Sea.

«They will be looking at them, and we’re considering all of them right now. There are about five or six conditions. We’re assessing all of them,» Trump told reporters at the White House.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his dissatisfaction over linking a potential ceasefire in the Black Sea to sanctions relief, accusing the Kremlin of misleading U.S. officials.

“We can see how the Russians are already starting to manipulate. They are trying to twist the agreements and deceive both our mediators and the entire world,” Zelensky stated in an evening address on Tuesday.

Reporting by AFP contributed to this article.