Delegations from the United States and Russia are meeting today in Saudi Arabia in a renewed effort to negotiate a ceasefire in the Black Sea and seek broader steps toward ending the war in Ukraine. The meeting follows discussions held yesterday between U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Riyadh.
According to the Russian news agency TASS, citing an anonymous source, the talks are scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. Greek time.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, whose evolving approach to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin has shifted diplomatic dynamics, has expressed his desire to see an end to the war and has sent his own envoys to Riyadh to participate in the negotiations.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who led the Ukrainian delegation in Sunday’s meeting, described the talks with the Americans as “productive and focused”, noting that energy infrastructure was one of the key points discussed. He emphasized that Ukraine remains committed to achieving a “just and lasting peace.”
Both Washington and Kyiv are pushing for at least a temporary halt to strikes on energy infrastructure, while Ukraine has signaled its readiness for a general ceasefire without preconditions.
However, Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose military continues to advance in Ukraine, appears to be delaying any formal agreement until Russian forces secure full control of the Kursk region. Still, the Kremlin has reportedly agreed with Washington on a moratorium on attacks against energy facilities, a limited but significant gesture amid ongoing hostilities.
“This is an extremely complex issue and much remains to be done,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated, warning that the negotiations will be difficult.
“We are only at the beginning,” he added.
Reflecting ongoing divisions between the two sides, the Ukrainian delegation is headed by a sitting minister, while the Russian side is represented by Senator Grigory Karasin, a former career diplomat, and Sergei Beseda, an official with the Federal Security Service (FSB).
A further sign of diverging priorities: Peskov emphasized that the “main” topic of discussion with the Americans would be the possible renewal of the Black Sea grain export deal, rather than any direct commitment to a ceasefire.
That agreement, in effect from July 2022 to July 2023, had allowed Ukraine to export grain through the Black Sea despite Russia’s naval presence. Moscow withdrew from the deal, accusing Western countries of failing to uphold their commitments to ease sanctions on Russian exports of agricultural products and fertilizers.
As diplomatic efforts intensify, today’s talks may lay groundwork for future breakthroughs—but the road ahead remains uncertain.
Source: ANA-MPA
