Russia’s Lavrov claims Moscow ready to strike new Black Sea deal if US ‘orders’ Zelenskyy to respect it | World News
During the US-Russia talks on Ukraine war in Saudi Arabia, Russian foreign miner Sergei Lavrov has claimed that Moscow is willing to strike a new deal on Black Sea in order to protect shipping in the naval region but with a caveat that if Washington orders Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to respect the agreement.
A pause of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine to maintain a peaceful Black Sea region could act as a stepping stone for a broad ceasefire, as the US believes that naval ceasefire is a step towards full truce.
Lavrov said that any such pause on hostilities in Black Sea would function if the US provides assurances that Russia needs, Reuters reported.
Russia-US consultations in Riyadh have concluded pic.twitter.com/iqFZB7mzq2
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Both Russia and Ukraine had criticised each other over a collapse of an earlier agreement involving Black Sea intended to ensure the safety of merchant shipping in 2023.
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In a comment Lavrov which was televised, he said “We will need clear guarantees. And given the sad experience of agreements with just Kyiv, the guarantees can only be the result of an order from Washington to Zelenskyy and his team to do one thing and not the other.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security advisor Mike Waltz speak with the media following meetings with a Ukrainian delegation on Ukraine-Russia peace talks, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Saul Loeb/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
The Black Sea deal, which is now reportedly being favoured Russia, would resume the grain initiative in which Ukraine will be able to export the grains produced in the country safely.
However, Russia has indicated that it would demand further US pressure on Zelenskyy before the Kremlin agrees to a maritime ceasefire for a war which started in February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine.
Zelenskyy and Trump met in the White House last month and both the leaders converged in arguments turning it into a disastrous meeting. However, Trump had interacted with Zelenskyy over phone in the past weeks and things seem to have cooled down.
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