Discussions on resolving the Ukraine conflict lasted over 12 hours.
Senior Russian and American officials have concluded talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after more than 12 hours of discussions. The focus was on resolving the conflict in Ukraine and ensuring maritime security in the Black Sea.
According to Russian news agencies RIA Novosti and TASS, citing sources, a joint statement regarding the talks is expected to be released on Tuesday.
The Russian Foreign Ministry released a brief video of the Russian delegation leaving the talks, stating, “The Russian-American consultations have concluded,” but offered no further details.
Grigory Karasin, a seasoned diplomat and chairman of the parliamentary International Relations Committee, who is part of the Russian delegation, characterized the Riyadh discussions as both “creative” and “technical.”
“Not every negotiation results in a major document or agreement,” Karasin told reporters during a break. “The important thing is to maintain communication and understand each other’s perspectives. In that sense, we are making progress.”
The discussions centered on maritime security in the Black Sea and the potential revival of the Black Sea Initiative, commonly known as the “grain deal,” originally brokered by the UN and Türkiye. Russia withdrew from the agreement in July 2023, citing the West’s failure to fulfill its obligations.
“If you recall the original deal, there were significant commitments made to our side that were never met. This remains on the agenda,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated earlier in the day.
Peskov also mentioned that US President Donald Trump has suggested revisiting the deal as part of his broader effort to achieve a truce between Moscow and Kiev.