Russia Demands Sanctions Removal as Precondition for Ukraine Maritime Ceasefire

Russia has stated that a maritime ceasefire with Ukraine will only take effect once specific Western sanctions are lifted, particularly those targeting key Russian financial institutions.

The Kremlin’s demand follows an announcement by the U.S. that both sides had reached separate agreements to halt attacks in the Black Sea. However, Moscow insists that the ceasefire will not begin until restrictions on the state-run Rosselkhozbank are lifted and the bank is reconnected to the Swift international payment system.

Despite the ceasefire discussions, Russia launched overnight drone strikes on the Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, calling it a “clear signal” that Russia is not genuinely committed to peace.

Western sanctions on Russian banks, including the suspension of their access to Swift, were imposed after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine to disrupt its financial transactions and limit revenue from energy and agricultural exports. The European Commission has reiterated that lifting these sanctions would require significant concessions, including a full withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that Russia might be deliberately delaying the end of the war, stating, “I think Russia wants to see an end to it, but it could be they’re dragging their feet.”

The maritime ceasefire agreement was reached after three days of negotiations in Saudi Arabia. However, Kyiv and Moscow have since presented conflicting interpretations of the deal. While Ukraine maintains that no sanction relief is required for the ceasefire to take effect immediately, Russia argues otherwise. Zelensky accused the Kremlin of attempting to “manipulate” the agreement.

According to Dr. Jenny Mathers, a Russian politics expert, the ceasefire would benefit Russia significantly, as it has struggled to export agricultural goods while Ukraine has managed to continue its shipments and successfully target Russian vessels.

The Black Sea, a crucial trade route for Ukraine, has been a major battleground since Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative in 2023. Following its exit from the deal, Moscow declared that any vessel bound for Ukraine could be considered a military target.

While Ukraine initially faced export challenges, it later established alternative routes that brought grain exports close to pre-war levels. The U.S. has emphasized that the ceasefire agreement is part of broader efforts to achieve “durable and lasting peace” and restore stability to critical trade routes in the region.