Russia and Ukraine agree to halt Black Sea conflict

The White House announced that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to stop fighting in the Black Sea. This agreement comes after talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It marks a significant step towards a full cease-fire, which the Trump Administration has been advocating. Ukraine's Defense Minister, Rustem Umerov, confirmed the deal. However, there was no immediate response from Russia. The U.S. stated that it had reached agreements with both countries concerning maritime and energy attacks. It also mentioned that support from third countries would help implement these agreements. Details on how and when these agreements will be executed are still unclear. Umerov emphasized the need for "additional technical consultations" for monitoring the arrangements. Both nations depend on the Black Sea for exporting goods. In mid-2022, fighting intensified between Russia and Ukraine in the region, leading to threats against commercial vessels. Ukraine has since launched operations against Russian warships, creating a new shipping corridor. Umerov stated that any movement of Russian military vessels outside the eastern Black Sea would violate the spirit of the agreement. The White House confirmed that both sides agreed to "eliminate the use of force in the Black Sea." However, it is uncertain if this means stopping attacks on port infrastructure, which were mentioned during the discussions. Ukraine is also looking to restart operations in key port cities that have been affected by fighting.