06:56, Wed, Mar 26, 2025 | UPDATED: 07:01, Wed, Mar 26, 2025
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Donald Trump has hinted he will lift sanctions on Russia in a major blow to Zelensky. (Image: Getty)
US President Donald Trump has hinted that the US will "will help restore Russia's access to the world market" for certain products. This would include lifting sanctions on agricultural and fertiliser exports, lower maritime insurance costs and enhanced access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.
The news comes as a Black Sea ceasefire has been agreed by Ukraine and Russia after both sides had separate talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia over the last few days. Trump has admited that Vladimir Putin could be trying to delay a full truce, conceeding that Russia could be "dragging their feet". Ultimately, however, Trump said he thought "Russia wants to see an end" to its full-scale invasion.
Russia says it downed two Ukrainian drones over Black Sea
Russia's defence ministry says its forces destroyed at least nine Ukrainian drones overnight, including two over the waters of the Black Sea.
The statement comes just hours after the US said it had struck deals with bost countries to pause their attacks over the Black Sea and against energy infrastructure.
However, it was not immediately clear how many drones were launched over Russia overnight and there were no immediate reports of hits on Black Sea or energy targets, the Independent reports.
Russia says it downed two Ukrainian drones over Black Sea (Image: Getty)
Trump admits Russians could be ‘dragging their feet’ on Ukraine peace deal
President Trump admitted that Vladimir Putin could be trying to delay a full truce with Ukraine.
Ukraine and its allies have accused the Kremlin of delaying negotiations to end its three-year full-scale invasion by presenting a list of delaying conditions and demands.
Asked if he believed that the Kremlin was stalling, Trump said on Tuesday he thought “Russia wants to see an end” to its full-scale invasion.
“But it could be that they’re dragging their feet,” he admitted, adding that he had used the same tactic in his past business negotiations.
“I’ve done it over the years,” Trump said. “You know, I don’t want to sign a contract, I want to sort of stay in the game but maybe I don’t want to do it quite, I’m not sure.”
First tentative steps towards peace made with Black Sea ceasefire
The first tentative agreement has been reached between Kyiv and Moscow after an intense 12 hours of talks with the US in Saudi Arabia. They agreed to a ceasefire in the Black Sea, but quickly dispited when it would actually commence.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused the Kremlin of lying when it said the truce would only begin once some Western sanctions were lifted.
He maintained the agreement came into force as soon as it was announced by the US yesterday afternoon.
The Kremlin said a moratorium on energy attacks until mid-April was also built into the agreement and released a list of protected facilities.
In a huge change of US policy, Donald Trump's administration said it would "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".
According to Trump, his administration was "looking into" Russian requests to lift sanctions.
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