Russia Demands Sanction Lifts for Ukraine Maritime Ceasefire

Russia insists on lifting sanctions to proceed with a maritime ceasefire with Ukraine amid continued conflict, while Kyiv interprets the demands as manipulative after initial agreements.

Russia has indicated that it will not engage in a maritime ceasefire with Ukraine unless certain Western sanctions are lifted. This statement follows a recent announcement from the United States declaring that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to halt strikes in the Black Sea; however, the Kremlin clarified that sanctions on several Russian banks take precedence before any ceasefire can be established. Key among these demands is the lifting of sanctions on Rosselkhozbank, a state agricultural bank, and restoring its access to the Swift international payment system.

The announcement comes on the heels of missile strikes by Russia against the port city of Mykolaiv, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned, interpreting it as a sign of Russia’s unwillingness to pursue peace. Following Russia's aggressive invasion of Ukraine, the EU and its allies had cut off several Russian financial institutions from accessing Swift, intending to hinder smooth payment transactions vital for Russia’s energy and agricultural exports.

Reversing these sanctions would require approval from the EU, which is uncertain considering its ongoing support for Ukraine. In an interview, U.S. President Donald Trump speculated that Russia may be stalling any potential resolution to the conflict. The maritime ceasefire was brokered by the U.S. after three days of negotiations in Saudi Arabia, yet subsequent statements from both Kyiv and Moscow revealed discrepancies over the details of the agreement, especially regarding timelines and terms.

Zelensky expressed confidence that the ceasefire could take effect without the precondition of sanction relief, dismissing the Kremlin’s assertions as manipulative. Following the initial announcement, Washington reiterated a commitment to fostering a “durable and lasting peace,” highlighting that the agreement aims to revive a critical trade route and includes measures to avoid attacks on each nation's energy infrastructure. The Black Sea is crucial for Ukraine’s shipping, particularly after Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative in 2023, when it threatened vessels bound for Ukraine as military targets, significantly decreasing Ukraine's grain exports.