White House confirms commitments made in Saudi Arabia talks
Russia and Ukraine have separately agreed to refrain from targeting vessels in the Black Sea following negotiations in Saudi Arabia that concluded on Tuesday, the White House announced.
In parallel statements, U.S. officials stated that both countries committed to ensuring safe navigation, avoiding the use of force, and preventing commercial vessels from being utilized for military purposes in the region.
Ukraine’s stern alert on Russian ships in the Black Sea
While the White House emphasized shared promises, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry took to X with its own statement, sharpening its position on Russian naval activity. It cautioned that any Russian warships straying past the eastern Black Sea would breach the deal, posing an immediate threat to national security.
“In this case, Ukraine will have the full right to exercise its right to self-defense,” the ministry declared. Ukrainian officials also underscored the urgency of additional “technical consultations” to lock in the agreement’s success.
