On path to peace: US, Russia meet for talks on Ukraine war, Black Sea security

US and Russian officials began talks in Saudi Arabia, focusing on achieving a ceasefire in the ongoing war in Ukraine. The discussions come as US President Donald Trump intensifies efforts to end the three-year-long conflict, following his recent phone calls with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The primary aim of the talks is to secure a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, ensuring the free flow of shipping. While the area has not been the site of intense military operations recently, the White House believes that such a ceasefire is a necessary first step toward broader peace efforts, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

A source briefed on the planning revealed that the US side is being led by Andrew Peek, a senior director at the White House National Security Council, and Michael Anton, a senior State Department official.

On the Russian side, Grigory Karasin, a former diplomat and now chair of the Russian upper house of parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sergey Beseda, an adviser to the director of the Federal Security Service (FSB), are representing Russia.

President Trump has repeatedly called for an end to the war in Ukraine and has expressed satisfaction with the progress of talks so far. He praised Putin’s engagement in the process, stating, "Efforts to stop further escalation in the conflict were somewhat under control" during a recent speech.

However, skepticism remains among major European powers regarding Putin's willingness to make meaningful concessions, with many viewing his demands as non-negotiable. Putin insists that Ukraine must drop its NATO ambitions and withdraw its troops from the four Ukrainian regions claimed and largely controlled by Russia.

White House national security adviser Mike Waltz, speaking on CBS' "Face the Nation," explained that discussions will also cover the "line of control" between the two countries, with a focus on "verification measures, peacekeeping, freezing the lines where they are." Confidence-building measures, such as the return of Ukrainian children taken by Russia, will also be addressed.

The Kremlin has indicated that the talks will focus primarily on "the safety of navigation in the Black Sea," building on previous agreements like the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allowed for the safe export of Ukrainian grain.

Ukraine's Defence Minister, Rustem Umerov, who leads the Ukrainian delegation, mentioned that the US-Ukraine talks also included proposals to protect critical infrastructure and energy facilities.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who met with Putin in Moscow earlier this year, downplayed concerns that Moscow might be emboldened by any potential agreement, stating, "I feel that he wants peace."

By Vafa Guliyeva