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Russia, US start discussions on Ukraine war in Riyadh
(MENAFN) Senior officials from Russia and the United States have begun negotiations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, aiming to address the Ukraine conflict, multiple media outlets have reported. The discussions are expected to focus on Black Sea maritime security and the possibility of a ceasefire.
The Russian delegation includes Grigory Karasin, chair of the Federation Council’s Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sergey Beseda, an adviser to the Federal Security Service (FSB) director. On the US side, the delegation is led by Andrew Peek, a senior director at the White House National Security Council, and Michael Anton, a high-ranking State Department official, according to Reuters.
The talks began behind closed doors on Monday morning at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, with Saudi security forces reportedly clearing reporters from the premises, TASS reported. Ruptly also released footage of Russian and Saudi officials inside the hotel.
Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, expressed hope that the negotiations would bring “real progress,” particularly on securing a Black Sea ceasefire for maritime activity. He suggested that such an agreement could naturally lead to a broader ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov cautioned that the talks would be challenging, citing unresolved issues related to the Black Sea grain deal. Russia withdrew from the agreement in 2023, arguing that Western sanctions had hindered its agricultural exports, while Ukraine was still allowed to ship its grain.
The discussions in Riyadh come after separate US-Ukraine negotiations, during which Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated that the delegations discussed measures to protect Ukraine’s energy and critical infrastructure.
The Russian delegation includes Grigory Karasin, chair of the Federation Council’s Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sergey Beseda, an adviser to the Federal Security Service (FSB) director. On the US side, the delegation is led by Andrew Peek, a senior director at the White House National Security Council, and Michael Anton, a high-ranking State Department official, according to Reuters.
The talks began behind closed doors on Monday morning at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, with Saudi security forces reportedly clearing reporters from the premises, TASS reported. Ruptly also released footage of Russian and Saudi officials inside the hotel.
Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, expressed hope that the negotiations would bring “real progress,” particularly on securing a Black Sea ceasefire for maritime activity. He suggested that such an agreement could naturally lead to a broader ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov cautioned that the talks would be challenging, citing unresolved issues related to the Black Sea grain deal. Russia withdrew from the agreement in 2023, arguing that Western sanctions had hindered its agricultural exports, while Ukraine was still allowed to ship its grain.
The discussions in Riyadh come after separate US-Ukraine negotiations, during which Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated that the delegations discussed measures to protect Ukraine’s energy and critical infrastructure.
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