MOSCOW/NEW YORK - Russia and the United States have agreed on a category list of energy facilities spared from being targeted during a 30-day energy ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as well as ensuring the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative, according to a Kremlin statement Tuesday.
The category list includes oil refineries, oil and gas pipelines and storage facilities, electricity generation and transmission infrastructure, nuclear power plants, and hydroelectric dam facilities.
The Kremlin added that the 30-day ceasefire on energy facilities is in effect starting from March 18 and may be extended by mutual agreement or cease to be in effect if violated by one of the parties.
In an earlier statement, the Kremlin noted that Russia and the US agreed to form measures to implement the 30-day ceasefire agreement.
Russia and Ukraine held separate talks with the US in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, over March 23-25.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said earlier in the day after the talks with the US delegation that "all parties" agreed to develop measures implementing the energy facility ceasefire.
Black Sea ceasefire
The Kremlin also said that Russia and the US have agreed to ensure the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative, provided that sanctions were eased on Russia's agricultural and food trade.
The agreement includes ensuring the safety of navigation in the Black Sea, the non-use of force, and preventing commercial ships from being used for military purposes, with inspections in place to enforce this, said the Kremlin.
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It also added that the US will help in restoring Russia's access to global markets for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lowering shipping insurance costs, and improving access to ports and international payment systems.
The agreement will enter into force after a series of sanctions and restrictions related to its agricultural and food trade were lifted, the Kremlin noted.
The move would include lifting Western sanctions on the Russian Agricultural Bank, which services agricultural businesses, and reconnecting the bank to the SWIFT international messaging system.
Russia has also listed in the conditions the removal of restrictions on its food and fertilizer producers and exporters, on the servicing of related Russian-flagged vessels in ports, and on the related agricultural machinery supplies to Russia.
The Kremlin statement came after Russian and US representatives wrapped up their Monday's talks in Riyadh, where both sides sought arrangements for the safety of navigation in the Black Sea.
Russia and Ukraine signed separately with Turkiye and the United Nations the Black Sea Grain Initiative in Istanbul in July 2022, which secured the export of Ukrainian grain and other agricultural products from Black Sea ports.
As a parallel agreement, Russia and the UN signed a memorandum of understanding on the facilitation of Russian food and fertilizer exports.
On July 17, 2023, Russia suspended its participation in the Black Sea deal, citing unfulfilled commitments to the Russian part.
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Meanwhile, the White House said the US has reached agreement with Russia and Ukraine to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea.
The US will continue facilitating negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to achieve a peaceful resolution, in line with the agreements made in Riyadh, according to a White House statement.
The US reached separate agreements with both Russia and Ukraine to develop measures to ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine, the statement noted.
The US-Russia and US-Ukraine talks also agreed on efforts to achieve a "durable and lasting peace".
In the US-Ukraine talks, both sides reaffirmed the US' commitment to helping achieve the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children.
