Ukraine war: Black Sea ceasefire?
Russia and Ukraine are reportedly ready to agree a temporary ceasefire in the Black Sea and with regard to energy infrastructure. The US announced that under the deal the two sides will refrain from attacks on ships and that Washington would comply with Russia's precondition that sanctions on grain and fertiliser exports be eased. Many details remain unclear, commentators emphasise.
A first step
US correspondent for Avvenire Elena Molinari sees reason for hope:
“The path to a ceasefire in Ukraine will be via a grain deal. It's a small step, the details of which have not yet been finalised, but both sides, the Ukrainian and Russian, have assured the United States of their intention to silence weapons in the Black Sea to ensure 'safe navigation' and prevent attacks on energy infrastructure. Many ambiguities remain, as the lack of a joint statement demonstrates. ... However the White House announced an agreement on a partial cessation of hostilities at sea, which would also prohibit the 'use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea'.”
Just an announcement for now
This will hardly change anything for Ukraine, Le Soir comments:
“Apart from the announcement, nothing has happened yet. Neither the details of the agreements nor their implementation schedule have been specified. There is currently no guarantee that the ceasefire will actually come into force, or of when that might happen. ... For the Ukrainians, a ceasefire in the Black Sea won't change much, because after the grain deal ended they managed to open a corridor for grain exports to the Bosphorus. Resuming this agreement was not one of Kyiv's demands. ... Trump is no doubt still hoping to achieve a genuine ceasefire, but he doesn't seem to have understood that Putin has other interests than stopping the war.”
Moscow's blackmail tactics
Political scientist Vladimir Fesenko points out the dangers of Russia's preconditions on Facebook:
“The main problem is that the Kremlin has issued an ultimatum that the Black Sea initiative will only come into force if the US lifts sanctions and restrictions against Russia in the agricultural sector. ... If the US were to accede to Russia's demands before the ceasefire at sea comes into effect, a dangerous precedent would be set. Russia would be able to continue using this tactic of dictating preconditions. ... And Russia's blackmailing in the negotiations will never stop.”