Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that a truce with Russia, covering Black Sea operations and energy strikes, took effect immediately on Tuesday. However, he accused Moscow of already distorting and manipulating the agreements.
Zelensky warned that if Russia violated the terms, he would urge US President Donald Trump to supply Ukraine with weapons and impose new sanctions on Moscow. The agreements, facilitated by the United States, aim to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea and prevent attacks on energy infrastructure in both countries.
“The US considers these agreements effective from the moment of their announcement,” Zelensky told reporters, but expressed skepticism about Russia’s commitment. In his nightly address, he claimed Russia was already attempting to deceive international mediators.
“Even today, on the very day of negotiations, the Russians have started manipulating the agreements, distorting the terms, and misleading the world,” he stated. He also dismissed Russian claims that the Black Sea shipping deal was linked to sanctions relief.
These accords mark the first attempt to halt energy strikes since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, which has led to ongoing battles along a 1,000-kilometer front.
No Confidence in Russia
Zelensky acknowledged that the agreements lacked clear enforcement mechanisms but reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment. He stated that if Russia breached the deal, he would turn to Trump for support.
“We do not trust the Russians, but we will act constructively,” he said, adding that US officials view the energy ceasefire as extending to civilian infrastructure and ports.
Ukraine has faced relentless Russian drone and missile strikes on its power grid, while Kyiv has retaliated with drone attacks on Russian oil refineries. During negotiations, Ukrainian officials provided the US with a list of facilities they believe should be protected under the energy truce.
Moscow also issued a list of sites in both countries covered by the moratorium, including oil refineries, pipelines, and nuclear plants. The agreements followed two days of discussions in Saudi Arabia between US officials and representatives from both Kyiv and Moscow.
Concerns Over Trade Concessions
The White House and Russia jointly stated that part of the deal would help Moscow regain access to global markets for agricultural and fertilizer exports. However, Zelensky made it clear that Ukraine had not agreed to this aspect, viewing it as a weakening of sanctions.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov warned that any movement of Russian naval vessels beyond the eastern Black Sea would be considered a violation of the agreement. He implied that Ukraine could retaliate in self-defense if such a breach occurred.
Zelensky suggested that Turkey might play a role in monitoring Black Sea activities, while Middle Eastern nations could oversee the energy truce. However, these aspects had not yet been formally discussed.
Additionally, Zelensky revealed that the United States had presented Ukraine with a revised bilateral minerals agreement, expanding upon a previous framework. He had not yet reviewed the full details but noted that it did not include greater US involvement in Ukraine’s nuclear power sector, a topic Washington had recently raised.
