Ukraine, Russia, and Turkey were to sign an agreement on ensuring the safety of vessel passage in the Black Sea, which was discussed for two months, but Kyiv abandoned it at the last moment. Reuters reports this with reference to unnamed sources and a copy of the agreement. 

It is noted that the agreement "to ensure the safety of merchant shipping in the Black Sea" was reached in March, and although Ukraine did not want to sign it formally, Kyiv agreed to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's announcement on March 30. 

"At the last minute, Ukraine suddenly pulled out of the agreement, and the deal was scuttled," one source told the agency. 

Several unnamed sources also told the agency that they did not know why Kyiv had pulled out of the deal.

Citing the agreement document, the agency reports that Turkey, as part of its mediation efforts, reached agreements with Ukraine and Russia "to ensure free and safe navigation of merchant ships in the Black Sea" in accordance with the Montreux Convention on the Status of the Straits. 

"Under the deal, which was almost announced on March 30, both Moscow and Kyiv offered security guarantees to merchant ships in the Black Sea, pledging not to strike, arrest or search them while they were either empty or filled with civilian cargo," Reuters writes. 

The agency adds, citing the text of the agreement, that these guarantees under the agreement do not apply to warships, civilian vessels carrying military goods, except for maritime transportation agreed by the parties as part of international missions.