The United States and Russian officials on Monday began talks in Saudi Arabia aimed at making progress toward a broad ceasefire in Ukraine, with Washington eyeing a Black Sea ceasefire deal before securing a wider agreement.
The talks, which followed U.S. discussions with Ukraine on Sunday, come as U.S. President Donald Trump doubles his efforts to end the three-year-old conflict after speaking last week with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
It was gathered that the U.S. side was being led by Andrew Peek, a senior director at the White House National Security Council, and Michael Anton.
The White House said the essence of the talks is to reach a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, allowing the free flow of shipping.
Russia will be represented by Grigory Karasin, a former diplomat who is now chair of the Federation Council’s Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sergei Beseda, an adviser to the director of the Federal Security Service.
