White House says U.S. and Russia have agreed to “eliminate use of force” in the Black Sea, Kyiv cautions Russian warships still pose a risk

The White House has released a press statement following the March 23–25 meeting between the U.S. and Russian delegations in Riyadh. According to the statement, the two sides agreed to avoid the use of force in the Black Sea:

• The United States and Russia have agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.
• The United States will help restore Russia’s access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.
• The United States and Russia agreed to develop measures for implementing President Trump’s and President Putin’s agreement to ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine.
• The United States and Russia welcome the good offices of third countries with a view toward supporting the implementation of the energy and maritime agreements.
• The United States and Russia will continue working toward achieving a durable and lasting peace.

“The United States reiterated President Donald J. Trump’s imperative that the killing on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine conflict must stop, as the necessary step toward achieving an enduring peace settlement. To that end, the United States will continue facilitating negotiations between both sides to achieve a peaceful resolution, in line with the agreements made in Riyadh,” the statement concluded.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov outlined separate agreements reached between the Ukrainian and American sides during the same talks in Saudi Arabia. He made clear that Ukraine would treat Russian military vessels operating beyond the Eastern Black Sea as a security risk — and that Kyiv reserves the right to act accordingly.

“The Ukrainian side emphasizes that all movement by Russia of its military vessels outside of Eastern part of the Black Sea will constitute violation of the spirit of this agreement, will be regarded as violation of the commitment to ensure safe navigation of the Black Sea and threat to the national security of Ukraine. In this case Ukraine will have full right to exercise right to self-defense,” Umerov wrote in a Facebook post.

This point was notably missing from the U.S. summary of its talks with Russia.