Russian, US delegations set for high-stakes talks on Ukraine conflict in Riyadh

The Russian and US delegations are set to begin negotiations on the resolution of the Ukrainian conflict in Riyadh at 11:00. The talks will take place at The Ritz-Carlton hotel in the Saudi capital.

Leading the Russian delegation will be Grigory Karasin, Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, alongside Sergey Beseda, Advisor to Director of the Federal Security Service (FSB), Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

On the US side, the delegation will be headed by Michael Anton, Director of Policy Planning at the State Department. Joining him will be assistants to the US special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

The meeting follows a series of talks earlier this week. On March 23, Ukrainian and US representatives engaged in a five-hour discussion with a break. The talks focused on various issues, including proposals for the security of Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later described the conversation with US officials as "quite useful."

Ukraine's delegation in the March 23 talks was led by Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, and included Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, Deputy Head of Zelenskyy's office Pavlo Palisa, and former Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Anatolii Barhylevych. Minister Umerov stated that the Ukrainian team was following President Zelenskyy's directive to work towards a "dignified peace" and ensure Ukraine's long-term security.

The upcoming Russian-US discussions in Riyadh are expected to focus on further steps toward de-escalating the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with both sides seeking a diplomatic resolution to the crisis. Zelenskyy's office had earlier confirmed that the ongoing dialogue with both Russia and the US is essential for shaping Ukraine’s path toward peace and security.

The meetings come at a pivotal moment in the conflict, as international efforts continue to intensify in search of a diplomatic solution to the war that has ravaged Ukraine since 2022.

Sources confirmed that representatives from Russia and the United States are set to meet in Riyadh for closed-door negotiations on the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

Saudi Arabia's Presidency of State Security has instructed journalists to vacate the premises of The Ritz-Carlton hotel, where the diplomatic discussions will take place. The closed-format meeting indicates a level of confidentiality surrounding the sensitive talks.

The primary focus of the talks will be the settlement of the war in Ukraine, with discussions likely to cover key issues such as the safety of navigation in the Black Sea and the potential for a ceasefire. These high-level talks come amid growing international concerns over the escalation of the conflict and the impact it continues to have on global security and trade.

Details on the exact participants from both countries remain limited, but the meeting is expected to include senior diplomats and security officials. The closed nature of the talks highlights the delicate and high-stakes nature of the discussions, which are aimed at exploring avenues for de-escalation and long-term peace.

By Vafa Guliyeva