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UN says talks on Black Sea navigation are ongoing; role of UN in new agreements not yet defined
Summary
Following separate US announcements about navigation in the Black Sea, the United Nations said discussions have continued but that it is too early to specify whether or how the UN will participate in or facilitate any new arrangements.
The United Nations on Wednesday said it has followed recent announcements about separate agreements intended to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea but that discussions are ongoing and the UN's role — if any — has not been finalized.
UN spokesperson Steph said the UN has been engaged on freedom of navigation and related issues since the start of the conflict and that staff, including a UN official named Rebecca Greenspan, have met with interlocutors in Moscow, Washington and other capitals to discuss implementation questions connected to memoranda of understanding. "We've seen the two announcements, which are obviously welcome," the spokesperson said. "The discussions on these issues have continued."
When pressed, the spokesperson said it was "a little too early at this point to share more information" about the specific issues raised in talks with the Russian Federation or about any final UN role in an agreement. The spokesperson also noted that Turkey (referred to in the transcript as Turkiye) would likely play a critical part in any Black Sea arrangements by virtue of its geographic location, but said the UN did not want to "get ahead of ourselves" on future monitoring or implementation mechanisms.
Why it matters: The security of Black Sea navigation carries commercial and humanitarian implications in the region, but the UN told reporters it has not yet formalized a role in recently announced arrangements.
Provenance: The spokesperson's answers during the question-and-answer portion of the briefing addressed the reported bilateral announcements and ongoing consultations.
