The first ceasefire deal since Russia sent tanks into Ukraine three years ago, brokered by the US during talks in Saudi Arabia, will have a limited impact on the grinding war and seems to reward Moscow without extracting any notable concessions to Kyiv.
It also appears that Russia will gain far more than Ukraine from the announcement of a maritime ceasefire and a possible ban on strikes on energy facilities.
The White House said yesterday’s agreement would “eliminate the use of force” in the Black Sea and provide security for shipping. But in reality the Black Sea has not been the site of significant battles since 2023, when Russia’s navy was forced to retreat from Crimea after a series of devastating Ukrainian strikes, including the
