Promoting Peace between Russia and Ukraine: US, Russia, and Ukraine Continue Negotiations in Riyadh

On Tuesday, March 25th, a meeting between the United States and Ukrainian delegations is expected to take place in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Earlier, on Monday, the US and Russia conducted negotiations at the same location regarding a ceasefire proposal in the Black Sea. The US hopes that the Riyadh meeting will serve as an opportunity to push for comprehensive peace talks and end the over three-year conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

A White House official stated that progress has been made in the US-Russia talks, and there may be a release of a positive joint statement in the near future.

Russia has mentioned that the talks concluded late Monday night and the draft of a joint statement has been submitted to Moscow and Washington for review. CBS News reported that the US and Russia are expected to release a joint statement on Tuesday morning.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stated in a video address on Monday evening that the Ukrainian delegation will meet with the US side in Riyadh following the US-Russia talks.

According to information from the Ukrainian National Broadcasting Company (Suspilne), the meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday.

This multilateral diplomatic initiative in Riyadh marks a significant point in the Trump administration’s efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict. With negotiations for a Black Sea ceasefire progressing, global attention has shifted to the US-Ukraine bilateral talks and whether they can reach further consensus.

Previously, Russia had rejected Trump’s proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in all of Ukraine, only agreeing to temporarily halt attacks on energy infrastructure.

Trump stated on Monday that negotiation topics include territory, boundaries, electricity, and ownership of power plants.

As the US-Russia talks commenced on Monday, both Ukraine and Russia continued to launch attacks. Kyiv reported that Russia’s missile strikes caused at least 88 injuries, while Moscow accused Ukraine of launching targeted attacks that resulted in the deaths of two journalists and their driver.

The primary goal of the Riyadh meeting, according to the White House, is to facilitate a Black Sea ceasefire to allow for the transport of food, fuel, and other goods.

Since 2023, tensions in the Black Sea conflict have somewhat eased as Ukrainian forces attacked the Russian fleet, forcing its withdrawal from sensitive waters. Ukraine has been able to reopen ports and resume exports.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated, “The focus of this meeting is primarily on maritime safety.”

He also criticized the previously UN-supported Black Sea transit agreement for not meeting Russia’s demands.

A source told Reuters that the US delegation is led by Andrew Peek, Senior Director of the White House National Security Council, and Michael Anton, a senior official from the US State Department. The Russian delegation is represented by Grigory Karasin, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Russian Federation Council and a former diplomat.

Interfax quoted Karasin as saying that the atmosphere during Monday’s meeting was “creative,” and both sides discussed “sensitive issues” in their bilateral relations.

Trump expressed satisfaction with the progress of the talks and praised Putin’s active participation. However, major European countries remain skeptical about whether Putin is genuinely willing to make concessions.

Putin stated that he is willing to negotiate but demands that Ukraine formally abandon joining NATO and that Ukraine withdraws its forces from four Ukrainian regions unilaterally claimed as “annexed” by Russia.

National Security Advisor Mike Waltz stated on CBS’s “Face the Nation” program on Sunday that the US, Russia, and Ukrainian delegations would convene at the same location in Riyadh on Tuesday.

Waltz mentioned that in addition to the Black Sea ceasefire, the three delegations would also discuss the “control line” between the two militaries, describing it as “verification measures, peace maintenance, and freezing the control line.”