US and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia on March 24, aiming to advance ceasefire negotiations in Ukraine, with Washington prioritizing a Black Sea maritime agreement before tackling a broader peace deal. These discussions followed separate US-Ukraine talks, as President Donald Trump ramps up efforts to end the war.
The White House emphasized that securing safe navigation in the Black Sea is the immediate goal. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov echoed this, pointing out that a prior 2022 shipping agreement had failed to meet Moscow’s expectations. Leading the negotiations for the US were Andrew Peek from the National Security Council and Michael Anton from the State Department. Russia’s delegation included Grigory Karasin, head of the Russian parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sergei Beseda, an adviser within the Federal Security Service.
After nearly three hours, Karasin described the discussions as “creative,” acknowledging progress on long-standing tensions. Trump, who has consistently called for an end to the war, expressed optimism about Putin’s engagement, stating on March 22 that efforts to prevent escalation were “somewhat under control.”
However, skepticism remains among European powers, who doubt Putin’s willingness to compromise. The Russian leader insists that Ukraine must abandon its NATO aspirations and withdraw from four regions largely controlled by Russia. Meanwhile, Moscow has upheld a temporary halt on attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, despite Kyiv’s continued strikes on Russian energy facilities.
White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz confirmed that US, Russian, and Ukrainian delegations were present in the same facility in Riyadh. Beyond the Black Sea initiative, discussions covered ceasefire verification measures, peacekeeping, and the return of Ukrainian children taken by Russia. Ukraine’s Defense Minister, Rustem Umerov, stated that talks also included safeguarding energy and infrastructure.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who recently met with Putin, dismissed fears that Moscow would exploit a peace deal to expand aggression across Europe. “This isn’t World War II,” he told Fox News, adding that he believes Putin is open to peace.
While Washington and Moscow agree on the need for a settlement, many details remain unresolved. The Kremlin reaffirmed its interest in reviving the Black Sea grain export initiative, originally brokered in 2022 by Turkey and the UN. However, with Russia pulling out of that deal in 2023, trust remains a major hurdle in these high-stakes negotiations.
