The US will assess Russia's demands after Moscow expressed agreement in principle to a ceasefire in the Black Sea brokered by the US and Ukraine to ensure safe shipping, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last night, quoted by Reuters, BTA reported.
Following the talks in Saudi Arabia, the US announced separate agreements in the Black Sea with Ukraine and Russia to ensure safe shipping, stop attacks and prevent the use of merchant ships for military purposes.
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. US President Donald Trump, who took office on January 20, has been pushing for an end to the war amid a rapid rapprochement with Moscow that has alarmed Kiev and European allies.
"After our meeting (in Saudi Arabia), the Russians have detailed a number of conditions that they want met in order for us to do this, so we will assess", Rubio told reporters on a visit to Jamaica on Wednesday.
He added that US officials would work to "understand more fully what the Russian position is or what they want in return, and then we will present that to the President (Trump)" and a decision will be made on the next step.
Russia's demands are well known, Reuters notes. The conditions listed in the Kremlin statement on Tuesday, including the lifting of restrictions and sanctions on a major agricultural bank, exporters of fertilizers and food, and on Russian transport ships, largely reflect demands made by Moscow two years ago during negotiations to extend the Black Sea agreement, first agreed in July 2022.