**Zelensky Accuses Russia of Manipulating Conditions for Black Sea Ceasefire**
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of manipulating the conditions for a ceasefire in the Black Sea.
In his evening address on March 25, Zelensky said: “We see how the Russians have already started to manipulate. They are already trying to distort the agreements and actually deceive our mediators and the whole world.”
The accusation comes after discussions between the US and Russia in Saudi Arabia led to an agreement to implement a ceasefire in the Black Sea and a ban on strikes against energy infrastructure.
**US and Russia Agree to Ceasefire**
The two countries agreed to the ceasefire, but the Kremlin later added new conditions. They said that the ceasefire would only take effect after Western sanctions on Russia’s Rosselkhozbank and other financial organizations involved in supporting international food trade operations were lifted and they had their connection to the SWIFT messaging system restored.
**Zelensky Responds**
President Zelensky responded by saying: “There are absolutely clear statements published by the White House. Everyone can see what they say. And there is something that the Kremlin is lying about again: that allegedly the silence in the Black Sea depends on the issue of sanctions, and that allegedly the start date for the silence in the energy sector is March 18.”
**Russian Demands**
The Kremlin is also demanding that the West lift sanctions on Russian food producers and exporters, as well as on Russian-flagged ships involved in food and fertilizer trade. Another condition for the ceasefire is that commercial ships in the Black Sea should be inspected.
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