Russia seeks strict conditions for new Black Sea deal

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced on March 25, 2025, that new talks are possible about shipping safety in the Black Sea. He spoke after recent discussions with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia. Lavrov emphasized that any new agreement would require strict conditions. He pointed out that Russia wants to conduct inspections of ships to prevent empty vessels from being used to transport weapons. He also mentioned that there have been serious past issues related to exporting Russian grain and fertilizers. These concerns need to be addressed in any future deal.