March 29, 2025 (EIRNS)—At the March 24 meeting of U.S. and Russian representatives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Russians presented detailed proposals for reopening agricultural exports and other shipping in the Black Sea. On March 27, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the U.S. team would evaluate Russia’s conditions for the Black Sea deal—one agreed to “in principle” by the two heads of state—“and then we’ll present that to the President (Trump) and make a decision about the next step.”
Asked at her March 27 press conference about the Russian-American talks, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova provided a useful summary overview on the actual issue. Responding to a reporter’s question, she remarked:
“On March 24, 2025, in Riyadh, a meeting of experts from Russia and the United States took place as part of the ongoing implementation of an agreement between the presidents of both nations. The discussions centered on resolving the Ukrainian crisis. Leading the Russian delegation were Grigory Karasin, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Sergey Beseda, Advisor to the Director of the Russian Federal Security Service. Key topics included navigation safety in the Black Sea and the unblocking of Russian agricultural exports.
“A key outcome of the meeting was the United States’ commitment to facilitating the restoration of access for Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports to global markets. This includes lowering insurance costs for maritime transportation, improving access for Russian vessels to foreign ports, and ensuring the functionality of payment systems for transactions. We appreciate this commitment and anticipate the lifting of sanctions imposed on Rosselkhozbank and other financial institutions involved in international trade, food, and fertilizer transactions, as well as the expected reconnection to the SWIFT system….
“Once these measures are implemented, work will begin on enforcing agreements related to security in the Black Sea. These agreements include ensuring safe navigation, refraining from the use of force, and preventing commercial vessels from being used for military purposes. The Russian side emphasized the need to inspect such vessels for weapons and military equipment. It is also essential to extend security guarantees to facilities in Crimea, including the Kerch Strait and the Crimean Bridge.
“The experts also explored measures to implement the agreement between the presidents of Russia and the United States on a 30-day ban on strikes against energy facilities in Russia and Ukraine, effective from March 18. Discussions addressed the potential extension of the moratorium and the conditions for withdrawal if either party failed to comply….
“We expect all agreements reached to be fully implemented and, with U.S. assistance, for Russian agricultural exports to be unblocked. Additionally, we anticipate that the Kiev regime will cease its violations of the 30-day ban on strikes against energy facilities.
“I can also confirm that consultations between experts from the Russian and U.S. delegations will continue.”
Asked: “Who can give Russia any guarantees about the Black Sea Initiative? … What kind of guarantees do we need to trust Ukraine?” Zakharova replied: “Again, I would like to refer you to [Foreign Minister] Sergey Lavrov’s explanations. Among other things, he said that their handlers in Washington should do their part to curb the monster that the previous administration has nurtured.”
