Russia and U.S. Engage in Black Sea Shipping and Ukraine Peace…

Russia and the U.S. will discuss Black Sea shipping safety and Ukrainian peace talks soon in Jeddah. Recent changes in U.S. policy under President Trump highlight the evolving dynamics of the conflict. The talks aim to address maritime ceasefires and the earlier Black Sea Grain Initiative, amidst significant regional challenges.

Russia and the United States are set to engage in discussions regarding the safety of shipping in the Black Sea as part of a potential peace settlement for Ukraine. These negotiations will occur in the Saudi city of Jeddah shortly, as confirmed by the Kremlin on Thursday. Following significant advances by Russian forces in 2024, President Donald Trump altered U.S. policy towards the conflict, instigating dialogues with Moscow and halting military assistance to Ukraine, pressing for conflict resolution.

Steve Witkoff, an envoy of Trump, indicated that the U.S.-Russia talks were scheduled to occur on Sunday. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later suggested the discussions might take place early the following week. “We expect that negotiations will continue at the expert level in the coming days,” stated Peskov, noting a recent conversation between Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov and U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.

During a recent phone call on Tuesday, President Putin and President Trump reportedly addressed the “Black Sea Initiative.” The Black Sea Grain Initiative, mediated by Turkey and the United Nations, was established in July 2022 and enabled the safe export of approximately 33 million metric tons of Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea amid ongoing hostilities. Russia, however, withdrew from this agreement after a year, citing significant barriers to its own food and fertilizer exports.

Peskov remarked, “We fulfilled all the conditions then, but the conditions in relation to us were not fulfilled.” A statement from the White House following the Putin-Trump call indicated that both leaders had reached consensus on technical negotiations concerning the implementation of a maritime ceasefire, a full ceasefire, and a permanent peace.

According to the World Bank’s global commodities outlook from April 2024, both Russia and Ukraine have continued to ship grain to global markets despite the inherent risks associated with Black Sea shipping, with minimal repercussions following the collapse of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The October 2024 report from the Bank did not address the risks related to Black Sea shipping.

The ongoing conflict, which commenced following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, has resulted in significant casualties, displacements, and widespread destruction. The situation has also escalated tensions between Moscow and the West to unprecedented levels in sixty years. The conflict originated from the ousting of a Russia-aligned president during Ukraine’s Maidan Revolution in 2014, leading to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and subsequent violent confrontations in eastern Ukraine involving Russian-backed separatists.

In summary, discussions between Russia and the United States are imminent, focusing on securing shipping routes in the Black Sea and seeking a peaceful resolution for Ukraine. The outcome will likely hinge on the negotiations surrounding the previous Black Sea Grain Initiative. The ongoing conflict continues to have profound repercussions, with widespread human and structural damages arising from the security crisis that began in 2022.

Original Source: ddnews.gov.in