U.S.–Russia meeting begins in Riyadh, a day after Trump team’s talks with Ukraine

The latest meeting between Russian and U.S. delegations on ending the war in Ukraine has begun at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The talks are being held behind closed doors. According to Russian state media, Saudi Arabia’s General Security Service asked journalists to leave the hotel premises.

Last week, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said the talks would focus on a possible revival of the “Black Sea initiative,” referring to the agreement reached in July 2022 that allowed for the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that other “nuances” and “aspects” of ending the war would also be discussed.

Yesterday, delegations from the U.S. and Ukraine met in Riyadh. Afterwards, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov described the meeting as “productive and focused.”

Last week, U.S. presidential envoy Keith Kellogg said Washington would hold indirect talks between Russia and Ukraine to better understand each side’s conditions.