Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has requested ‘clear guarantees’ from the US regarding a safe passage agreement and ceasefire in the Black Sea.

Speaking to Russian media, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow is open to revitalizing an agreement to ensure safe passage in the Black Sea, but warned that Russia’s interests must be protected. “PROTECTING INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT IN OUR INTEREST”

Lavrov expressed, “We are in favor of finding ways to prevent damage to energy infrastructure, as this is not in our interest. As President Putin has also articulated, we support the ‘Black Sea Initiative’ being restarted in a more acceptable manner for everyone. This issue was prioritized during the discussions in Riyadh.” Lavrov Requests Guarantees from the US

The US administration announced on Tuesday, following three days of meetings in Saudi Arabia with delegations from Ukraine and Russia, that an agreement had been reached to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea. American experts met separately with Ukrainian and Russian representatives in Riyadh, and the White House issued joint statements regarding the discussions with Ukraine and Russia. The statements emphasized that the parties “agreed to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea, eliminate the use of force, and prevent commercial vessels from being used for military purposes.” However, Lavrov emphasized that Moscow expects clear guarantees on this matter, stating, “Considering the bitter experiences in agreements with Kiev, real guarantees can only be provided when Washington instructs (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenski and his team to fulfill this unequivocally. It seems to me that our American partners have received this message.” ** RUSSIA SEEKS A MORE COMPREHENSIVE AGREEMENT

The details of the potential agreement have not been disclosed yet, but this development is seen as a sign of the reactivation of an agreement, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in 2022, which guaranteed safe passage through Ukrainian Black Sea ports. This agreement had been suspended by Russia the following year, with Moscow arguing that it did not ensure the security of its exports in the Black Sea region.