The early defiance of Ukrainian forces in Snake Island set the scene for their dominance over the Black Sea, leaving little doubt why Putin was so keen for a ceasefire there, World Affairs Editor Sam

The agreement announced after parallel sets of talks in Riyadh would be the first significant step toward the full cease-fire the Trump Administration had been pushing, but it still would fall short.

The White House said Tuesday that both Ukraine and Russia have agreed to stop using force in the Black Sea – a deal in principle that the Kremlin says comes with several conditions before it can be implemented.