Russia formulates conditions for a ceasefire in the Black Sea and demands loosening sanctions. On the other hand, the EU resist. Meanwhile, Kyiv and Moscow accuse each other of breaking another agreement.
The EU rejects the agricultural sanctions against Russia. Moscow had made this a condition for approval of a ceasefire in the Black Sea.
A spokeswoman for EU foreign officers Kaja Kallas in Brussels said that the proposals are informed of ensuring safe shipping and the end of the attacks on energy systems in Ukraine and Russia. Russia now has to show real political will to end its illegal and unprovoked war of aggression. The EU is ready to support the next steps together with Ukraine, the USA and other partners.
Another spokeswoman for the EU Commission announced: “The end of the unlisted and unjustified Russian aggression in Ukraine and the unconditional withdrawal of all Russian armed forces from the entire area of Ukraine would be one of the most important conditions for changing or canceling the sanctions.”
Speculation about the purpose of the Russian conditions
As reported by the German news agency dpa, citing representatives of the European Commission and diplomats, the conditions formulated by Moscow for the implementation of the agreement have most likely not been denied with the US government of President Donald Trump. Accordingly, they could serve above all to slow efforts to brake a ceasefire in Ukraine.
In EU circles it was emphasized that in all possible steps it is particularly important that they are in the sense and for the benefit of Ukraine. A loosening of certain sanctions would therefore be conceivable if it contributes to a peace solution acceptable for Ukraine.
Baerbock: Do not establish ceasefire on conditions
The Federal Government also sees no European efforts to lift EU sanctions against Russia at the present time. With regard to the Russian demand that Russian banks would have to regain access to the international financial processing system Swift before a ceasefire for the Black Sea, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit emphasized that the EU has excluded Russian banks on Swift's Ukraine. “If that changes, that would have to be discussed from the circle of the European state and government heads and be decided. And I cannot recognize such an initiative at the present time,” he said.
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock asked Moscow not to establish a ceasefire on conditions.
The agreement for safe merchant shipping in the Black Sea was sold by the United States on Tuesday as a positive result of separate discussions with representatives of Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia. Moscow, however, demands that the Russian state agricultural bank and other money houses have previously returned to the international financial data system Swift, which had been taken in the course of western sanctions. This could only do the EU because the system has its location in Belgium.
Allegation of mutual attacks on energy systems
In addition to the negotiations on a ceasefire in the Black Sea, Russia's President Vladimir Putin and US President Trump announced a 30-day ceasefire for the energy infrastructure. However, it has apparently not been implemented. Kyiv and Moscow accuse each other of continuing attacks on this infrastructure.
On Wednesday night, Russia announced that nine drones shot down, including two over the Black Sea. It was also said that the Ukraine tried to attack a gas system on the Crimean Peninsula and the energy infrastructure in the Russian regions of Kursk and Brjansk. Damage was not reported. The Ukrainian side denied the Russian reports. The accusations are wrong, the Ukrainian general staff on Telegram said. There were no such attacks on March 25th and 26th.
At the same time, Ukraine accused Russia of attacking at least eight energy systems since March 18. That said Ihor Schowka, a consultant by Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj, on television. In contrast, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskow emphasized in a statement that Putin's suspension of attacks on the Ukrainian energy infrastructure would be implemented.
Both sides praise the USA
Peskow also praised the closer coordination with the United States in the recent discussions. Thanks to these “intensive contacts”, it was quickly agreed which energy systems should no longer be shot at. Even if Ukraine – as Peskow represented it – was not willing to say, it is important to comply with this partial weapon rest. “This is a good progress thanks to the constructive relationships that have arisen in our contacts with the American side, and we should continue this way,” said the Kremlin spokesman for the Interfax news agency.
Kyiv also emphasized improved relationships with the United States. According to Andrij Jermak, the head of the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj, they are “back on course”. Two rounds of talks about a ceasefire gave the Ukrainian government the opportunity to show the US representatives that it was ready to work with US President Trump in his endeavor to end the three years of war.
This contradicts the Russian negotiation approach, which provides for the linking of a peace agreement with conditions, Jermak said in an interview with the Reuters news agency. “I think we have great conversations with the Americans,” he says.
