In Riyadh, key agreements reached between the U.S. and Ukraine, Zelensky's statement
During a meeting in Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and the U.S. agreed on key steps to de-escalate the war and prevent attacks on energy infrastructure.
Photo: facebook.com/UkraineMFA
From March 23 to 25, technical negotiations were held in Riyadh between delegations from the U.S. and Ukraine, organized following discussions between Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky. This information was published on the White House website.
The parties agreed to ensure the safety of navigation in the Black Sea, prohibit military use of commercial vessels, and achieve the renunciation of force.
They also reached an agreement on facilitating the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian hostages, and the return of Ukrainian children illegally taken from the country.
An important part of the agreement was the ban on strikes against energy facilities in both Ukraine and Russia. The U.S. confirmed its intention to continue mediation efforts for long-term peace.
The role of Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in organizing the dialogue was specifically highlighted.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia's behavior in the coming days will be a key indicator of its true intentions. He noted that renewed air raid alerts, activity in the Black Sea, and threats from Moscow will require new responsive measures.
Zelensky emphasized the importance of diplomacy and thanked the U.S. for constructive cooperation. According to him, the world needs real results from Russia, not another deception.
Rustem Umerov also reported that in Riyadh, Ukraine and the U.S. agreed on a ban on attacks on energy systems, the inadmissibility of using civilian ships for military purposes, and conditions for safe navigation.
Both sides noted the need to continue consultations for a detailed elaboration and monitoring of the implementation of the agreements.
In turn, the Kremlin stated that expert groups from Russia and the U.S. held a meeting resulting in a number of important agreements.
The parties agreed to implement the "Black Sea Initiative" aimed at ensuring shipping safety, controlling cargo transport, and banning the use of commercial vessels for military purposes.
The U.S. pledged to support the restoration of Russian exports of food and fertilizers, including the lifting of sanctions on Rosselkhozbank, insurance, and logistics companies.
A decision was also made to ban strikes on energy infrastructure in Russia and Ukraine for 30 days, with a possibility of extension. Third-party countries may be involved in implementing the agreements.
It was previously reported that allies threatened to increase pressure on Russia, including new sanctions and expanded military assistance to Ukraine, if President Putin refuses to support a ceasefire.