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.

Ukraine has had the uppoer hand in the Black Sea. But conceding to to this US-brokered deal will win Kyiv important credit from the Trump administration.

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