In a dramatic twist to the ongoing Black Sea maritime security talks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed on Wednesday that Russia is attempting to introduce additional conditions to the ceasefire agreement negotiated by the US between Moscow and Kyiv earlier this week.
The deal, which was finalized in Saudi Arabia and announced by the US on Tuesday, aimed to ensure “safe navigation” in the Black Sea and halt attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure for 30 days. Both Russia and Ukraine confirmed the agreements, but Moscow stated the ceasefire would only take effect once certain sanctions and restrictions on Russia are lifted.
Zelenskyy expressed concerns, stating that Russia’s attempts to add new preconditions were complicating the deal. “The situation is more complicated regarding the Black Sea. Moscow is trying to insert additional conditions, but the agreement should have no preconditions. We expect the American side to ensure an unconditional ceasefire at sea,” he told reporters during a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
In the same briefing, Zelenskyy also discussed bolstering Ukraine’s defense capabilities, including the possibility of increasing the number of French-manufactured Mirage 2000 fighter jets in Ukraine’s arsenal. The Ukrainian president thanked Macron for an additional €2 billion in military aid, which will be crucial in supporting Ukraine’s defense efforts.
The joint conference came ahead of a major summit in Paris, where Macron plans to meet with global leaders to discuss the future of Ukraine’s military support. The summit, spearheaded by the UK and France, aims to solidify short-term aid for Ukraine and finalize steps toward peace and defense in the war-torn nation.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as the global diplomatic push continues to unfold.
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