RIYADH/KYIV, March 24 - A high-level U.S. delegation is set to engage in crucial discussions aimed at achieving a Black Sea ceasefire and a broader halt to violence in the ongoing war in Ukraine. The delegation will meet with Russian officials on Monday following preliminary talks with Ukrainian diplomats on Sunday. These "technical talks" come at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump is ramping up efforts to end Russia's prolonged military actions against Ukraine, which have persisted for over three years.
In recent developments, President Trump has spoken with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. A source involved in the planning of these discussions revealed that the U.S. team is led by Andrew Peek, a senior director at the White House National Security Council, and Michael Anton, a senior official from the State Department. After their meeting with Ukrainian representatives on Sunday night, the U.S. delegation is now preparing for conversations with Russian officials on Monday.
According to the White House, the primary objective of these talks is to establish a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, which would facilitate the unhindered movement of shipping vessels. White House national security adviser Mike Waltz noted during an appearance on CBS's Face the Nation that the U.S., Russian, and Ukrainian delegations are convening in the same venue in Riyadh. The discussions will extend beyond the ceasefire, addressing the line of control between the two nations and incorporating verification and peacekeeping measures. Confidence-building initiatives, including the return of Ukrainian children taken by Russia, are also on the agenda.
The Russian side will be represented by Grigory Karasin, a former diplomat currently chairing the Federation Council's Foreign Affairs Committee, along with Sergei Beseda, an adviser to the director of the Federal Security Service. Ukraine’s defense minister, Rustem Umerov, who heads the Ukrainian delegation, shared on Facebook that discussions with the U.S. included proposals aimed at safeguarding energy facilities and critical infrastructure.
Following Russian military advancements in 2024, President Trump altered U.S. policy concerning the conflict, initiating direct talks with Moscow and halting military support to Ukraine while urging Kyiv to take proactive steps to resolve the situation. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, who met with Putin in Moscow earlier this month, downplayed concerns from NATO allies regarding the potential for further Russian aggression, asserting, "I just don't see that he wants to take all of Europe." Witkoff emphasized his belief that Putin desires peace.
Trump has consistently vowed to bring an end to Europe's most devastating conflict since World War II. However, his outreach to Putin has raised alarms among European allies, who fear this may signal a pivotal change after 80 years of U.S. foreign policy focused on countering Russian expansionism. The war has tragically resulted in countless casualties, displacing millions and reducing entire communities to ruins.
Earlier this month, Putin expressed conditional support for Washington's proposal for a truce, indicating that Russian forces would continue operations until critical terms were established. Heorhii Tykhyi, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, stated that the discussions between Ukrainian and American representatives would clarify the specifics regarding potential ceasefire arrangements, monitoring mechanisms, and overall scope.
Last Tuesday, Putin agreed to Trump's suggestion for a temporary cessation of attacks on each other's energy infrastructure for 30 days, instructing the Russian military to comply. However, this agreement fell short of the comprehensive truce that the U.S. and Kyiv had sought. Trump remarked on Saturday that efforts to mitigate further escalation in the Ukraine-Russia conflict are "somewhat under control." Reports suggest that the U.S. aims to finalize a broader ceasefire within weeks, targeting an agreement by April 20, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
Despite the ongoing diplomatic efforts, both Russia and Ukraine have reported continued military strikes, with Russian forces slowly advancing in eastern Ukraine, a region that Moscow claims to have annexed.
