Ukraine and the Russian Federation conducted negotiations on the Safety Agreement of Shipping in the Black Sea - the media

Moscow and Kiev allegedly had to provide safety guarantees to merchant vessels in the Black Sea, which gives an idea of ​​"quiet diplomacy", which takes place behind closed doors. The Russian-Ukrainian Agreement on the safety of navigation in the Black Sea was almost reached last month. About it reports Reuters with reference to four people who are familiar with this issue.

The document "To ensure the safety of trade navigation in the Black Sea" was reached in March, but Ukraine did not want to officially sign. Kyiv, as stated in the message, agreed that Turkey President TaiP Erdogan announces the relevant decision on March 30. "In the last minute, Ukraine suddenly came out and the agreement was thwarted," one of the sources said. Three more people have confirmed this version of events. Russia, Ukraine and Turkey have abandoned comments.

The text of the agreement, which was seen by Reuters journalists, states that Turkey "within its intermediary efforts" reached agreements with Ukraine and the Russian Federation. Moscow and Kiev should provide safety guarantees of trading vessels in the Black Sea. Negotiations on a navigable agreement that has not been reported before is given an idea of ​​"quiet diplomacy", which is happening behind the closed doors.

This concerns the ways to involve two warring parties in the relevant negotiations, at least initially about trade navigation. Turkey and the UN helped to intervene in the Black Sea Grain initiative, an agreement concluded in July 2022, which allowed to export almost 33 million metric tons of Ukrainian grain safely to the Black Sea. Russia left the agreement in July 2023, complaining that its own exports of food and fertilizer faces serious obstacles.

The initiative involves the transportation of grain and other food products from Ukrainian ports. The agreement is also known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The documents that have been signed regulate compliance with the standards of safe navigation for export of grain and other goods. Ships, according to arrangements, pass through the Black Sea by specially created corridors. We will remind, on March 13, Erdogan urged to include the Russian Federation in negotiations with Ukraine.