Russia – US (Ukraine) Agreement

Main results of the meeting of expert groups of Russia and the USA

From the Kremlin’s Telegram channel no in English formal translation.

A list of energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine covered by the temporary moratorium on strikes against the energy system, as agreed upon by the Russian and American sides

1. Oil refineries.
2. Oil and gas pipelines and storage facilities, including pumping stations.
3. Electricity generation and transmission infrastructure, including power plants, substations, transformers, and distribution facilities.
4. Nuclear power plants.
5. Hydroelectric dams.

🔹The temporary moratorium will be in force for 30 days, starting on March 18, 2025, and can be extended by mutual agreement.

🔹In the event of a violation of the moratorium by either party, the other party has the right to consider itself free from obligations to comply with it.

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Main outcomes of the Russia and United States expert groups meeting

1. In line with the agreement reached by the presidents of Russia and the United States, the Russian and American sides agreed to provide for the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative, which includes ensuring safe navigation, eliminating the use of force, and preventing the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea, while adopting appropriate control measures by inspecting such vessels.

2. The United States will help restore Russia’s access to the world market for agricultural and fertiliser exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.

Note:
Clauses 1 & 2 will come into force following:

🔹the removal of sanctions imposed on Rosselkhozbank (Russian Agricultural Bank) and other financial institutions involved in ensuring international food trade (including fish and fish products) and fertilisers, their reconnection to SWIFT, and opening of relevant correspondent accounts;

🔹the removal of restrictions imposed on trade finance operations;

🔹the removal of sanctions imposed on companies producing and exporting food (including fish and fish products) and fertilisers, as well as restrictions banning insurance companies from working with food cargoes (including fish and fish products) and fertilisers;

🔹the removal of restrictions on servicing ships in ports and sanctions against ships flying the flag of Russia, if they are involved in food trade (including fish and fish products) and fertilisers;

🔹the removal of restrictions on supplies to the Russian Federation of agricultural machinery and other goods used in the production of food (including fish and fish products) and fertilisers.

3. Russia and the United States agreed to develop measures for implementing the agreement between the two countries’ presidents to ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine for 30 days starting on March 18, 2025, with an option to extend the agreement or to withdraw from it in the event of non-compliance by either party.

4. Russia and the United States welcome the good offices of third countries with a view toward supporting the implementation of the energy and maritime agreements.

5. Russia and the United States will continue working toward achieving a durable and lasting peace.
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Note: I like both documents. What is crystal clear is that Russia is making the US take the brunt of the work, and fixing their sanctions. The document on the Black Sea and the Grain Deal will come into effect only once the US has done their work, otherwise it is a dead letter.

Also, the ‘moratorium’ on striking power facilities is not open to interpretation. The 30-day steps in a sense builds in its own security guarantees. Both documents rely on Ukraine only in a tangential way, i.e., Ukraine should stop attacking facilities, otherwise the document becomes null and void and the other party is no longer bound to the regulations. It autocorrects. There is also no language on a cease-fire.

This, my friends, is Russian work. There is really nothing. Confirmation of ‘energy facilities’ and go back and do your homework, US Team.