**US Evaluating Russia’s Black Sea Ceasefire Conditions**
The US is considering the conditions set by Russia for a ceasefire in the Black Sea, said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This comes after Russia agreed “in principle” to a ceasefire following two-day talks in Saudi Arabia.
**What are the Conditions?**
Russia wants some Western sanctions lifted and for Russia to be reconnected to the SWIFT payment system before a ceasefire can take effect. The Kremlin also wants certain commercial vessels involved in food and fertilizer trade to be exempt from sanctions. Some of these sanctions were imposed by the European Union, not the US.
**Ukraine Already Agreed**
Ukraine has already agreed to a 30-day ceasefire if Russia meets certain conditions. However, Russia has refused to accept these terms and instead wants major concessions from the US in exchange for a partial ceasefire agreement.
**What’s Next?**
The US is now evaluating Russia’s proposal for an “energy truce” and a conceptual framework for a future de-escalation mechanism. The European Commission also reiterated that Russia must withdraw unconditionally from Ukraine before any changes to EU sanctions can be made.
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