**Russia Demands Sanctions Lifted Before Maritime Ceasefire**
Russia has said it will only agree to a maritime ceasefire with Ukraine once Western sanctions are lifted. This comes after the US announced that the two sides had agreed to stop strikes in the Black Sea.
The Kremlin is demanding that sanctions on several Russian banks be revoked, including Rosselkhozbank, a state agricultural bank. Russia also wants these banks to regain access to the Swift international payment system.
**Attack on Ukrainian City**
Just hours after the announcement, Moscow launched a drone attack on the Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv. President Volodymyr Zelensky said this was a “clear signal” that Russia did not want peace.
**Why Sanctions Matter**
The sanctions were put in place by the EU and its allies to disrupt Russian payments for energy and agricultural exports. To lift these sanctions, the EU would need to approve the move. However, recent statements from European leaders have shown support for Ukraine, making this a uncertain step.
**US President Weighs In**
US President Donald Trump suggested that Russia might be trying to delay ending the war. He said in an interview with Newsmax: “I think that Russia wants to see an end to it, but it could be they’re dragging their feet.”
**What’s Next?**
The maritime ceasefire was announced after three days of peace talks in Saudi Arabia. However, there is still confusion over the details of the deal, including when and how it will start. Ukraine and Russia have committed to “develop measures” to implement a ban on attacking each other’s energy infrastructure.
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