MOSCOW: The Kremlin said on Wednesday that Russia was engaged in “intensive” dialogue with the US, including discussions on sanctions after the two sides negotiated the contours of a Black Sea ceasefire alongside Ukraine.
Both Moscow and Kyiv agreed to the truce following separate talks with Washington in Saudi Arabia, but Russia said it would only enter into force once the West lifted certain sanctions affecting its agricultural exports.
When asked about when the US might lift the sanctions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “We’re continuing contacts with the US and very intensively. And we’re satisfied with how efficiently it’s going.”
“As for the Black Sea initiative, it can be activated after the fulfilment of a number of conditions,” Peskov said, referring to Russia’s demands.
Russia wants the West to lift sanctions on state-owned agricultural lender Rosselkhozbank, as well as other Russian financial institutions linked to food and fertilisers.
The White House did not mention lifting sanctions in its statement announcing the ceasefire plan, only that it would help restore “access to the world market” for Russia’s agricultural and fertiliser exports.
The West has not directly penalised Russian agriculture, but Moscow has long complained that sanctions restricting its access to shipping insurance, as well as sanctions targeting Rosselkhozbank — which provides loans to farmers — have frustrated its exports.
Russia also accused Ukraine on Wednesday of hitting its energy infrastructure overnight, despite President Vladimir Putin ordering a 30-day truce on such targets last week.
Ukraine fired drones at a “gas storage facility” in the annexed Crimean peninsula as well as a power installation in the Bryansk region, the Russian defence ministry said.
“The Kyiv regime, while continuing to damage Russia’s civilian energy infrastructure, is actually doing everything it can to disrupt the Russian-American agreements,” it wrote.
Moscow insists the 30-day truce has been in effect since March 18, but the monitoring of it is unclear and both the US and Russia have issued contradictory statements.
The US said Moscow and Kyiv had only agreed to “develop measures” towards an energy truce.
Germany urges Russia to accept Ukraine ceasefire deal
Germany urged Russia Wednesday to agree to a Ukraine ceasefire without conditions after Moscow said an agreement to halt Black Sea strikes could only come into force after some restrictions were lifted.
“We once again urge Russia to agree to a complete ceasefire without further conditions,” Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said.
“It is not a situation for dialogue when a ceasefire is repeatedly tied to concessions and new demands… we must not be deceived by the Russian president.”
Russia and Ukraine agreed Tuesday to halt military strikes in the Black Sea and on energy sites during talks brokered by the United States, which offered to ease pressure on agricultural exports as a first concrete incentive to Moscow.
The Kremlin said the agreement to halt strikes on the Black Sea could come into force only after the lifting of restrictions on its agriculture sector.
