US-Russia Riyadh talks: Prospects for a possible ceasefire in Ukraine

They are taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, crucial talks between delegations from the United States and Russia with the aim of reaching a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine.The meeting, hosted inside the luxurious Ritz-Carlton hotel and held behind closed doors, represents a significant attempt at mediation in the ongoing war. For the The Russian delegation includes Grigory Karasin, chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sergey Beseda, advisor to the FSB director.

The Meeting Between Washington and Kiev

Yesterday, Sunday 23 March, again in Riyadh, Talks were held between US and Ukrainian negotiators, led by Kiev Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. The The Ukrainian delegation also included Deputy Foreign Minister Oleksandr Karasevych, Deputy Heads of the Presidential Office Pavlo Palisa and Ihor Zhovkva, and Deputy Energy Minister Mykola Kolisnyk. Umerov called the discussion “productive and focused,” with particular attention to the issues of energy and the security of critical infrastructure.

Ukrainian delegation remains in Riyadh

After the meeting with the United States, the Ukrainian delegation decided to stay in Riyadh for further consultations. Serhiy Leshchenko, adviser to the head of President Zelensky's office, said that negotiations will continue for an indefinite period of time. "Negotiations usually do not last a day, sometimes they last months and some, like the one for the resolution of the conflict in the Middle East, last years.", he has declared.

Zelensky: “Pressure on Putin to Stop Attacks”

Il Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the need to put pressure on Vladimir Putin to obtain a concrete ceasefire order. "No matter what we discuss with our partners, we must pressure Putin to give a real order to stop the attacks. Whoever started this war is the one who must end it.“, declared the Kiev leader.

Key topics of US-Ukraine talks

The United States and Ukraine discussed the possibility of obtaining a respite in attacks on critical infrastructure, particularly energy infrastructure. Leshchenko confirmed that a central topic of the talks was the safety of infrastructure and navigation in the Black Sea. “We are talking about a mutual ceasefire: we will not attack their facilities, including river facilities, they will not attack ours, such as the ports of Kherson, Mykolaiv and Greater Odessa.", has explained.

Russia: “Difficult talks” and caution on truce

Before the start of talks with the Russian delegation, theUS envoy Witkoff had expressed optimism about “concrete progress” toward a ceasefire in the Black Sea, which could herald a broader truce. However, the Kremlin has scaled down expectations, calling negotiations “difficult”Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “We are only at the beginning of this path,” while confirming that Moscow is interested in discussing the resumption of an agreement to ensure the safety of commercial shipping in the Black Sea, especially for grain exports.

Washington aims for truce by April

La White House aims to secure truce agreement between Kiev and Moscow by April 20. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said: “Only I can stop the war“, while the words of the American envoy Witkoff on Putin – defined as “not a bad person”, but “very intelligent” – have sparked controversy.

“Creative talks” according to Moscow

The head of the Russian delegation in Riyadh, Grigory Karasin, described the negotiations with the United States as “creative,” without specifying further.It is important to maintain contact at all times and understand each other's point of view. This is possible“, Karasin said.

Discussions on Black Sea Security

In parallel with the negotiations in Riyadh, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that Deputy Minister Sergey Vershinin discussed the safety of navigation in the Black Sea with the Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Rebecca Grynspan.

Talks underway for over eleven hours

I Talks between Russian and US delegations in Riyadh are still ongoing after more than eleven hours, with three breaks in between. According to the Russian agency Tass, the US delegation will hold another round of consultations with the Ukrainian delegation after the meeting with the Russians.

The meeting in Riyadh represents a further key step in attempts to mediate the Ukrainian conflict. Although expectations are mixed, with Washington confident about short-term progress, Moscow more cautious, dialogue remains openThe possibility of a ceasefire in the Black Sea could be the first step towards a broader truce, but the path to peace remains long and uncertain.