Agreement reached in talks with Russia, Ukraine regarding Black Sea: US

The United States has reached agreement 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, the White House said on Tuesday, reported Xinhua.

The agreement follows separate technical-level talks between U.S. and Ukrainian delegations, as well as between U.S. and Russian delegations, held from March 23 to 25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The United States will continue facilitating negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to achieve a peaceful resolution, in line with the agreements made in Riyadh, said a statement from the White House.

The United States reached separate agreements with both Russia and Ukraine to develop measures to ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine, according to the statement.

The U.S.-Russia and U.S.-Ukraine talks also agreed on efforts to achieve a "durable and lasting peace".

Among the outcomes of the U.S.-Russia talks, the United States will help restore Russia's access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions, according to the statement.

In the U.S.-Ukraine talks, both sides reaffirmed the United States' commitment to helping achieve the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children.