by Lloyd's List

25 March 2025 (Lloyd's List) - RUSSIA and Ukraine have agreed to stop military strikes in the Black Sea following bilateral talks mediated by the US in Saudi Arabia, the White House said on Tuesday.

The announcements were made in separate statements outlining the outcomes of each bilateral negotiation, with language revolving agreements about the Black Sea and energy infrastructure largely identical.

Both nations agreed with the US to “ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea”.

In addition, both agreed with the US to “to develop measures for implementing President Trump’s and [President Zelensky’s/President Putin’s] agreement to ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine”.

“The US and [Ukraine/Russia] welcome the good offices of third countries with a view toward supporting the implementation of the energy and maritime agreements,” the statements read.

The White House’s Russia statement added that the US will “help restore Russia’s access to the world market for agricultural and fertiliser exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions”.

Meanwhile, the Ukraine statement said that: “The US and Ukraine agreed that the US remains committed to helping achieve the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children.”

All parties agreed to “continue working toward achieving a durable and lasting peace”.