Following U.S.-brokered talks in Saudi Arabia this week, delegations from Russia and Ukraine reached a ceasefire agreement in the Black Sea on Tuesday.

The White House stated that the U.S. and Russia have agreed to ensure safe navigation, prevent the use of force, and prohibit the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, head of the Ukrainian delegation, also confirmed the agreement, echoing the commitment to safe navigation, non-use of force, and preventing the militarization of commercial ships.

However, Umerov emphasized that any Russian military vessel movement outside the eastern Black Sea would be considered a violation of the agreement and a threat to Ukraine’s national security, justifying Ukraine’s right to self-defense.

The Kremlin reportedly indicated that full enforcement of the ceasefire might be contingent on Russia’s re-admission into SWIFT, casting doubt on the agreement’s immediate effectiveness.

Reuters reported that the Kremlin stated the ceasefire would only be implemented if Western sanctions on Rosselkhozbank, which services agricultural firms, are lifted and access to the international banking system is restored.

The White House readout did not directly address Russia’s SWIFT demands nor specify that the ceasefire depended on them.

Instead, the U.S. pledged to help restore Russia’s access to the global market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, reduce maritime insurance costs, and improve access to ports and payment systems for relevant transactions.

However, SWIFT is governed by the central banks of the G-10 nations – including Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the U.K., and the U.S. – along with the European Central Bank and the National Bank of Belgium.

Reuters further noted the Kremlin’s demand for lifting sanctions on food and fertilizer exporters, shipments, insurance companies, and restrictions on vessels and trade finance operations.

Digital’s inquiries to the White House about whether the ceasefire’s full implementation hinges on U.S. international partners agreeing to the Kremlin’s demands received no immediate response.

The U.S., Russia, and Ukraine also “agreed to develop measures for implementing” the terms reached last week during separate phone calls between Presidents Trump, Putin, and Zelenskyy, which prohibited “strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine.” The specific details of this “implementation” process and its enforcement remain unclear.

The Trump administration stated it would continue pursuing a broader ceasefire agreement between Ukraine and Russia.

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