Russia and US Initiate Discussions on Ukraine Dispute
Negotiations aimed at settling the Ukraine conflict have commenced in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with senior officials from Russia and the United States participating, as reported by several media sources. The primary focus of these discussions...
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Negotiations aimed at settling the Ukraine conflict have commenced in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with senior officials from Russia and the United States participating, as reported by several media sources. The primary focus of these discussions will be on maritime security in the Black Sea and the possibility of establishing a ceasefire.
The Russian delegation is led by Grigory Karasin, the chair of the Federation Council’s Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sergey Beseda, an adviser to the director of the Federal Security Service. On the US side, Andrew Peek, a senior director at the White House National Security Council, and Michael Anton, a senior State Department official, are at the helm.
According to TASS, the closed-door sessions began Monday morning at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, with Saudi security personnel requesting that reporters leave the area. The Ruptly video agency captured footage of Russian and Saudi officials entering the hotel.
Steve Witkoff, who served as US President Donald Trump's envoy to the Middle East and played a significant role in the settlement process, expressed optimism about the talks, stating they might achieve “some real progress, particularly as it affects a Black Sea ceasefire on ships between both countries. And from that you’ll naturally gravitate to a full-on shooting ceasefire.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, however, indicated that the discussions are expected to be challenging, citing various complications tied to the revival of the 2022 Black Sea grain deal, which permitted Ukraine to export agricultural products safely through the Black Sea. Russia withdrew from the agreement in 2023, citing the West's failure to alleviate sanctions that impeded its agricultural exports.
Additionally, these negotiations follow previous discussions between US and Ukrainian representatives in Saudi Arabia. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov noted that the delegations addressed “proposals to protect energy facilities and critical infrastructure.”
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
The Russian delegation is led by Grigory Karasin, the chair of the Federation Council’s Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sergey Beseda, an adviser to the director of the Federal Security Service. On the US side, Andrew Peek, a senior director at the White House National Security Council, and Michael Anton, a senior State Department official, are at the helm.
According to TASS, the closed-door sessions began Monday morning at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, with Saudi security personnel requesting that reporters leave the area. The Ruptly video agency captured footage of Russian and Saudi officials entering the hotel.
Steve Witkoff, who served as US President Donald Trump's envoy to the Middle East and played a significant role in the settlement process, expressed optimism about the talks, stating they might achieve “some real progress, particularly as it affects a Black Sea ceasefire on ships between both countries. And from that you’ll naturally gravitate to a full-on shooting ceasefire.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, however, indicated that the discussions are expected to be challenging, citing various complications tied to the revival of the 2022 Black Sea grain deal, which permitted Ukraine to export agricultural products safely through the Black Sea. Russia withdrew from the agreement in 2023, citing the West's failure to alleviate sanctions that impeded its agricultural exports.
Additionally, these negotiations follow previous discussions between US and Ukrainian representatives in Saudi Arabia. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov noted that the delegations addressed “proposals to protect energy facilities and critical infrastructure.”
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
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