The United States is trying to get Russia and Ukraine to stop fighting in the Black Sea, a crucial trade route for Russian and Ukrainian food exports. Over the past week, the United States has held separate negotiations with Russia and Ukraine in an attempt to stop fighting in the Black Sea,

The White House on March 25 announced that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to "eliminate the use of force" in the Black Sea, returning the spotlight to a theater of battle that has been relatively quiet for more than a year.