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UN says Riyadh talks on Black Sea navigation show progress but stops short of joining negotiations
Summary
The United Nations welcomed reported commitments reached in Saudi Arabia by the United States, the Russian Federation and Ukraine on freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, but the UN spokesperson said the organization is not formally a party to negotiations and will provide support only as requested.
The United Nations welcomed reported commitments reached in Saudi Arabia by the United States, the Russian Federation and Ukraine aimed at restoring freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, Secretary-General António Guterres said in a briefing highlighted by the UN spokesperson.
Guterres and the Secretariat framed an agreement on protecting civilian vessels and port infrastructure as important to global food security and supply chains, given the role of Black Sea export routes. The UN spokesperson said the organization “has been working consistently” on a proposal for safe and free navigation and noted an existing memorandum of understanding with the Russian Federation on facilitating access for Russian food and fertilizer to global markets.
The spokesperson emphasized that the UN is not reporting itself as an official negotiating party. Asked whether the UN would participate in monitoring of any mission, the spokesperson said, “No. I think we're — we don't want to get ahead of ourselves. We've been in touch with parties, and as soon as I have more to share with you, I will do so.” In later remarks the spokesperson reiterated that the UN “cannot report that the UN is in any way officially involved in negotiations.”
The briefing noted that Rebecca Greenspan, a UN official who has met with Russian, U.S. and Ukrainian officials, has been “available to people involved in those talks” to share information from the Secretariat’s work on freedom of navigation. The spokesperson declined to claim credit for the Riyadh discussions, saying the priority is that “things get actually achieved.”
Why it matters: freedom of navigation in the Black Sea affects the movement of grain and fertilizer from the region to global markets. Any monitoring, enforcement or guarantees will require precise arrangements and, potentially, third-party or host-state cooperation before the UN could assume an operational role.
What remains unclear: the spokesperson said the UN is awaiting details of what was agreed in Riyadh and could not confirm whether the Secretariat would undertake a monitoring role without further discussions or formal invitations.
