Truce shaky, Russia wants SWIFT payments restored

Ukraine and Russia accused one another on Wednesday of flouting a truce on energy strikes brokered by the United States, and the EU said it would not meet conditions set by Russia for a planned ceasefire in the Black Sea.

Tthe rhetoric from Moscow and Kyiv suggested they remained far apart.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the US side told Kyiv the deals were effective as soon as they were announced. But the Kremlin said the Black Sea agreement would not enter force until a sanctioned Russian state bank was reconnected to the international payment system (SWIFT). Europe said that would not happen until Russia withdrew from Ukraine.

Zelenskyy warned, any strikes on Ukraine’s energy facilities by Moscow would draw “strong retaliation.” The US said it “will help restore Russia’s access to global market.” Overnight, Russia said it had taken two drones over the Black Sea and that Kyiv tried to attack a gas facility in Crimea.