US Presidential Special Envoy Steven Witkoff said a moratorium on attacks on military and civilian vessels in the Black Sea could come into effect as early as next week. He said it would be an important step toward reducing tensions in the region. According to Witkoff, negotiations between the US and Russia are in their final stages and the parties are close to reaching an agreement that would ensure a temporary end to attacks in the waters that have become the scene of intense confrontation in recent years. He said the goal of the initiative is to create conditions for safe shipping, which is especially important in the context of transporting grain and other cargo.

Witkoff's statement comes amid ongoing efforts by the Donald Trump administration to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The moratorium, the special envoy noted, is seen as an interim measure that could be followed by a longer-term ceasefire.

Witkoff also said the Russian side had expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue, an important signal after months of escalation.

The Black Sea has remained an area of ​​heightened tension since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, but it appears that a ceasefire, at least temporary, may now be in the region.