Major Sanctions Relief for Russia in U.S. - Brokered Ceasefire Initiative with Ukraine

Russia and the U.S. agree to develop measures to implement the agreement between presidents Putin and Trump on a ban on strikes on energy facilities in Russia and Ukraine for a 30-day period, starting (retroactively) from March 18, 2025.

According to a statement released by Moscow on  Russia-U.S. talks in Riyadh held on Tuesday, the two side agreed to implement the "Black Sea Initiative" – ensuring the safety of navigation in the Black Sea, the non-use of force and prevention of the use of commercial vessels for military purposes.

The U.S. will assist in the restoration of Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports’ access to world markets, the reduction of the costs of insurance of maritime transportation, and the expansion of access to ports and payment systems for these purposes.

Sanctions Relief

Sanctions to be lifted against Russia's Rosselkhozbank and other financial institutions ensuring operations on international trade in food and fertilizers and they are reconnected to SWIFT.

Sanctions are to be  removed from companies producing and exporting food and fertilizers, as well as insurance companies handling food and fertilizer cargoes.

Restrictions are to be removed on the servicing of ships in ports and sanctions are lifted from Russian-flagged ships in the food and fertilizer trade.

Restrictions are scrapped on the export of agricultural machinery and other food production-related items to Russia.

The agreement on strikes on energy facilities can be extended or withdrawn from in the event of non-compliance by one of the parties.

Russia and the U.S. welcome assistance from third countries aimed at supporting the implementation of agreements in the energy and maritime sectors, and agree to continue their broader effort to secure a strong and long-lasting peace.