A U.S.-brokered Black Sea ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine faces immediate challenges as Moscow sets specific conditions for implementation, including the lifting of Western sanctions and restoration of SWIFT banking access [1][3].

The agreement, negotiated in Saudi Arabia, calls for both sides to 'ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea' [2]. It also includes measures to halt attacks on energy infrastructure.

While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the ceasefire would take immediate effect, the Kremlin insists implementation depends on meeting several conditions [3]. Key Russian demands include:

Lifting sanctions on Russian Agricultural Bank (Rosselkhozbank)Restoring SWIFT access for financial institutions involved in food and fertilizer tradeRemoving restrictions on Russian agricultural exports

U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged the conditions, stating his administration is 'looking at all of them right now' [1]. However, the decision regarding SWIFT access falls under European Union jurisdiction, as SWIFT is headquartered in Belgium [1].

The agreement presents strategic implications for both sides. Ukraine has successfully used maritime drones to push Russia's Black Sea fleet from Crimea, an advantage it may lose under the ceasefire [2]. Meanwhile, Russia could benefit from sanctions relief while maintaining pressure elsewhere in the conflict.

Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko expressed concerns about whether the agreement includes security for the ports of Kherson and Mykolaiv, which remain blocked by Russian mines [2]. Zelensky has accused Moscow of attempting to 'manipulate' the agreements and 'deceive both our intermediaries and the entire world' [4].