Talks between US and Russian officials have begun in Riyadh. The US and Russia are about to discuss a partial ceasefire in the ongoing conflict. The negotiations come amid growing US-mediated peace efforts, with National Security Adviser Mike Waltz stating that “we’re closer to peace than we ever have been.”
The discussions follow a conversation between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on call. During the phone call, Trump proposed a maritime truce to ensure the safe movement of food, fuel, and commercial trade in the Black Sea. The Kremlin has expressed support for the idea. Russian foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov confirmed that the security of navigation in the Black Sea is a primary agenda item.
Grigory Karasin, chairman of the Russian upper house of parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sergei Beseda, an adviser to the director of the Federal Security Service, are representing Russia in the talks. The US delegation met with Ukrainian officials on Sunday night before sitting down with Russian representatives on Monday.
According to Waltz, the negotiations are “proximity talks” that include discussions on the line of control, verification tools, and peacekeeping efforts. He added that confidence-building measures, such as the return of Ukrainian children taken by Russia, are also under discussion.
A limited ceasefire agreement was reportedly reached in principle on Wednesday following Trump’s conversation with Putin. However, disagreements persist over its scope. The White House asserts that energy and civilian infrastructure should be protected, while the Kremlin has indicated that only energy facilities fall under the agreement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pushed for broader protections, including railways and ports.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov clarified that Putin’s order applies solely to energy infrastructure and accused Ukraine of jeopardizing the truce by attacking a gas metering station in Sudzha, Kursk region. The Ukrainian military rejected the allegation, instead blaming Russia for the attack.
Despite ongoing negotiations, Russia launched overnight drone strikes across Ukraine on Saturday, killing at least seven people. Russia knows the ceasefire is only related to not attacking the energy infrastructure, but the war is going on the battlefield. Gaining more ground on the battlefield will make Russia to look a more and more stronger party at the negotiating table, and Putin knows it.
Meanwhile, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff expressed optimism, stating that real progress could be made in Riyadh, especially regarding the Black Sea ceasefire. He suggested that an agreement on maritime security could pave the way for the end of hostilities.
The talks look positive, and the involved parties are following the process to achieve peace. First, they agreed not to attack each other’s energy infrastructure. Now, the talk is on ending the war in the Black Sea. If successful, the talk will move further and end hostility on the ground. Till now, hopes are high, and optimism is on the table. Time will tell the exact outcome of the ceasefire.
