The Guardian: Russia willing to strike Black Sea deal in possible move towards peace if US orders Ukraine to respect arrangement … Ukraine still obstructing it.

As a first reaction to yesterdays meeting of representatives of the US and Russia in Saudi Arabia, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov mentioned that a new Black Sea Shipping Agreement could be made, provided Ukraine is submitting to US orders.

This reminds that Ukraine has been, so far, a proxy of the US in the war but seemingly tries to find its own ways, its elites trying to defy the US orders and obtaining support from some European countries.

The Black Sea Agreement was suspended by Russia in 2023 with the argument that the US and Ukraine would not follow the agreement. Now, Russia says it would again reanimate this Black Sea Agreement, of cause, provided that the US and Ukraine (and other allies) would respect the agreement. The conditions under which Russia is willing to sign a new agreement are unknown yet.

It became also known that, so far, a common public statement of the US and Russia following the 12 hours long meeting of yesterday was not possible because of Ukrainian obstructions. Therefore, unfortunately it is a matter of fact that now Ukraine is itself obstructing the peace process. The Black Sea Agreement would be another small, but important step towards peace.