Russia says sanctions must be lifted before Ukraine maritime ceasefire can start

350a26c0 0a29 11f0 97d3 37df2b293ed1.jpg

SPUTNIK/KRE/EPA-EFE A ship fires a missile in the Black SeaSPUTNIK/KRE/EPA-EFE

A Russian navy vessel in the Black Sea (file photo)

Russia has said some Western sanctions must be lifted before it begins a maritime ceasefire with Ukraine.

Within hours of the US announcing the two sides had agreed to halt strikes in the Black Sea in separate deals, the Kremlin said it would only take place once sanctions on a number of Russian banks were lifted.

The demands include revoking sanctions on the state agricultural bank Rosselkhozbank and restoring the firms’ access to the Swift international payment system.

Overnight, Moscow launched a drone attack on the port city of Mykolaiv, Ukrainian officials said, with President Volodymyr Zelensky saying the strikes were “a clear signal” Russia did not want peace.

After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU and its allies suspended access to Swift for a number of Russian financial institutions.

The aim was for Russian companies to lose access to the normal smooth and instant transactions provided by Swift, disrupting payments for its valuable energy and agricultural exports.

Reversing that decision would need EU approval, a step that would appear uncertain in light of recent European statements of support for Kyiv.

A European Commission spokesperson said the withdrawal of all Russian forces from Ukraine would be one of the main conditions to lift or amend any sanctions.

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said that Russia could be trying to delay ending the war.

“I think that Russia wants to see an end to it, but it could be they’re dragging their feet. I’ve done it over the years,” he said in an interview with Newsmax.

See also  6 dead after drone attack on Syrian base housing US troops

The maritime ceasefire was announced by the US after three days of peace talks in Saudi Arabia.

However Kyiv and Moscow later released conflicting statements on the details of the deal, including when and how it would start.

Zelensky said he believed the deal did not require sanctions relief to come into force and would take effect immediately.

He called the Kremlin’s statement an attempt to “manipulate” the deals.

After announcing the agreement on Tuesday, Washington said all parties would continue working toward a “durable and lasting peace”, adding that the agreement would reopen an important trade route.

Ukraine and Russia also committed to “develop measures” to implement a previously agreed ban on attacking each other’s energy infrastructure, the White House said.

The Black Sea is located south of Ukraine and to the west of Russia, and is also bordered by Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Georgia.

It is also bordered by parts of Russian-occupied Ukraine – including Crimea.

It is a vital shipping route for Ukrainian exports, and after Russia pulled out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative in 2023, it said it would view any vessel bound for Ukraine as a potential military target.

As a result, Ukraine’s grain exports slumped.


BBC News

Check Also

39827c70 2428 11f0 9060 674316cb3a1f.jpg

Conclave to elect new pope to begin on 7 May, Vatican says

Thomas Mackintosh BBC News, London Getty Images Cardinals will meet next month in a secret …

Leave a Reply