Baku, TurkicWorld
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia on Tuesday of “manipulating” ceasefire agreements reached during talks between delegations from Moscow and Washington in Saudi Arabia, TurkicWorld reports citing Anadolu.
Earlier, the White House said the US agreed with Russia and Ukraine to “ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea” following the talks in Riyadh.
It said the US would help restore Russia’s access to world markets for agriculture and fertilizer exports and that both Washington and Moscow also agreed to develop measures to ban strikes on energy facilities in Russia and Ukraine.
The Kremlin later confirmed the agreements but noted that they will take effect as soon as certain restrictions and sanctions on Russia are lifted.
It added that Russia and the US agreed to take measures to implement a 30-day ban on strikes against energy facilities in both countries "starting from March 18, 2025, with the possibility of extending and withdrawing from the agreement in the event of non-compliance by one of the parties."
“Unfortunately…right on the day of the talks, 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,” Zelenskyy said in an evening video address.
“There are absolutely clear statements published by the White House. Everyone can see what is stated there. And there is something that the Kremlin is lying about again: that supposedly silence in the Black Sea depends on the issue of sanctions and that supposedly the date for the start of ‘silence’ on energy is March 18. Moscow always lies. And it depends on the world – on everyone who really needs peace – whether they will allow Moscow to lie again," he said.
“We in Ukraine will do everything to ensure that the agreements work out and that there are no strikes. But the Russians must know and must realize: if they carry out strikes, they will face a strong response.
“And they will bear the responsibility. And if the Russians later try to spin tales, claiming the strikes were not on energy or civilian infrastructure, everyone will see the truth,” he added.
Zelenskyy also said that Russia’s stance is prolonging the conflict in Ukraine and that further sanctions and pressure should be imposed on Moscow should the agreements reached fail.
“How Russia behaves in the coming days will reveal a lot, if not everything…We do not trust them. And frankly, the world doesn’t trust Russia. And they must prove that they are truly ready to end the war, ready to stop lying to the world, stop lying to (US) President (Donald) Trump, and stop lying to America,” he added.
Russian authorities have not yet commented on Zelenskyy's accusations.
