Russia and Ukraine were very close to reaching an agreement on Black Sea shipping last month , but Kiev withdrew at the last moment, reported Reuters, quoted by BNR. The agency cited four sources familiar with the matter.
The sources, who wished to remain anonymous, informed that Russia and Ukraine have been negotiating for two months with the mediation of Turkey for an agreement to guarantee the safety of shipping in the Black Sea and have agreed on an agreement on the text that was to be announced by Ankara. One of the sources stated that "at the last moment, Ukraine suddenly pulled out and the deal fell through". The remaining three souls confirmed this version of events.
It is not yet clear what the reason for Kiev's decision was. Russia, Ukraine and Turkey declined to comment.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in February that without new U.S. military aid, Ukraine would be unable to protect the Black Sea shipping corridor spanning its western coast near Romania and Bulgaria.
The previously unreported talks on the shipping agreement shed light on the quiet diplomacy going on behind the scenes on ways to get the two warring parties to negotiate, even if it is just about commercial shipping, Reuters commented.< /p>