Ban on energy strikes and Black Sea security: key agreements between Ukraine and US in Riyadh

Ukraine and the United States held technical consultations and discussed the security of energy infrastructure and navigation in the Black Sea. The parties focused on the issue of the release of prisoners of war and the return of deported Ukrainian children.

The Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Rustem Umierov, reported this.

"Fulfilling the tasks of the President of Ukraine, we continue to work on bringing about a just peace and ensuring security for our state. This meeting is a logical continuation of the successful consultations with the United States in Jeddah. No one seeks a just peace more than Ukrainians; our position remains honest, transparent, and consistent," Umierov wrote.

Key results of the US-Ukraine talks:

• The parties agreed to guarantee safe navigation in the Black Sea and prohibit the use of commercial vessels for military purposes. It was also agreed to cease the use of force in the region.
• Ukraine emphasizes that the exit of Russian military vessels beyond the Eastern Black Sea will violate the agreements. In the event of such actions, Kyiv reserves the right to self-defense.
• An agreement has been reached on a complete ban on strikes on Ukraine and Russia's energy infrastructure. This will help stabilize the energy situation in the region. The parties support the involvement of third countries to monitor the implementation of energy and maritime agreements. This will ensure their effective implementation.
• Negotiations will continue to achieve a sustainable peace. The parties will work on further steps in this direction.
• The United States confirmed its support for the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilians, and the return of deported Ukrainian children. This issue remains one of the key issues in the negotiations.

Additional technical consultations are needed to implement the agreements as soon as possible. They will help agree on details, monitoring, and control mechanisms.

US statements: key insights

The White House also published a statement on the results of the talks between Ukraine and the United States in Saudi Arabia. It is worth noting that the document on the negotiations is almost identical to Umierov's statement.

However, it also states that the United States and Ukraine welcome assistance from third countries to implement energy and maritime agreements.

"The United States reiterated to both sides [Ukraine and Russia – ed.] President Donald Trump's imperative that the killings on both sides of the Russian-Ukrainian war must stop as a necessary step towards achieving a lasting peace settlement," the statement said.

That is why the United States will continue to facilitate negotiations between both sides to achieve a peaceful settlement in accordance with the agreements reached in Riyadh.

For reference:

On March 24, in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, after US representatives met with Ukrainian representatives the day before, the American and Russian delegations held new negotiations.

The day before, on March 23, Ukrainian and American delegations met in Saudi Arabia's capital to consider proposals for the security of energy facilities and infrastructure.

The White House stated that during the negotiations, they would try to achieve a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea for free navigation and discuss the "line of control." In addition, it was noted that Washington is asking Moscow to return deported Ukrainian children as one of the "confidence-building" measures.

At the same time, as The Moscow Times writes, citing its own sources, the Russian delegation in negotiations with the United States of America is demanding that the territories of four regions of Ukraine—Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson—be transferred under its control.

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US-Ukraine negotiations conclude in Riyadh – Al Arabiya