Russian and U.S. delegations are set to meet on Monday in Riyadh to discuss a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. The meeting follows earlier consultations between US and Ukrainian representatives in the Saudi capital.
Leading the Russian delegation will be Grigory Karasin, Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Sergey Beseda, Advisor to the Director of the Federal Security Service. The US delegation is expected to include Michael Anton, Director of Policy Planning Staff of the United States, along with Keith Kellogg and Mike Waltz, Advisors to the US Special Envoy for Ukraine and the National Security Council, respectively.
According to Yuri Ushakov, Aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the talks will focus on reviving the Black Sea grain initiative. This issue was discussed in a recent phone call between Presidents Putin and Donald Trump. The US national security advisor confirmed that the negotiations will center on establishing a ceasefire in the Black Sea region. Future discussions are expected to address verification mechanisms for the ceasefire, the deployment of peacekeeping forces, and territorial disputes.
US-Ukraine Talks
On the evening of March 23, U. and Ukrainian delegations met in Riyadh for discussions that included Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Pavel Palisa, and military and energy sector representatives. The talks focused on a proposed 30-day ceasefire targeting energy infrastructure and ensuring the security of maritime traffic in the Black Sea.
Earlier, Kellogg stated that the US plans to facilitate indirect negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Riyadh. “This week, we will set up technical groups for indirect talks in Saudi Arabia, where both sides will be in separate rooms. We’ll ask one side, ‘What are your conditions?’ then relay them to the other side. Essentially, it’s shuttle diplomacy within the rooms in Riyadh,” he explained.
Reuters reported that Kiev views these discussions as “purely technical.” According to Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Georgiy Tikhiy, the US and Ukrainian representatives are expected to “clarify the conditions and nuances of various potential ceasefire arrangements.”
The first round of US-Ukraine talks took place on March 11 in Jeddah, where officials resumed discussions on resolving the conflict following a heated dispute between Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and Trump in the Oval Office.
US-Russia Contacts
On March 18, Presidents Putin and Trump spoke by phone about the situation in Ukraine, ways to prevent escalation, and broader international issues. Following their discussion, Putin agreed to Trump’s proposal for both sides to halt attacks on energy infrastructure for 30 days. According to the White House, they also agreed to initiate technical negotiations on implementing a “Black Sea ceasefire, a full ceasefire, and a lasting peace.” The Kremlin emphasized that a key requirement for progress would be “the complete cessation of foreign military aid and intelligence sharing with Kiev.”
Monday’s meeting in Riyadh will mark the third round of direct talks between Russia and the US since Trump’s return to the presidency. The first took place on February 18, also in Riyadh, where Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Ushakov, and Kirill Dmitriev, Head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, met with US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Waltz, and Steve Witkoff. On February 27, technical teams from both countries met in Istanbul to discuss diplomatic issues related to their embassies.
A High-Profile Venue
The meeting between Russian and US officials will be held at The Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh, a venue known for hosting major political events. It was the site of the US-Gulf Cooperation Council summit, where Trump made his first official foreign visit as president during his first term.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Based on TASS materials