Kremlin summarizes US-Russia talks in Riyadh
Photo: Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Getty Images)
During negotiations in Saudi Arabia, Russia and the United States discussed the issue of safe navigation in the Black Sea. Russia complained about attempts to restrict its access to the grain and fertilizer markets, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti reports, citing Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
According to a Russian high-ranking official, Moscow allegedly supports the restoration of the Black Sea Initiative but in a more acceptable form for all parties. The Russians demand that there be no ambiguities in the new version of the Black Sea Initiative.
Lavrov claimed that Russia is concerned about the food security of the Global South and East. Therefore, Russia wants to ensure that no one tries to push it out of the grain and fertilizer markets.
Lavrov also mentioned that both the Russian and American delegations are reporting on the results of the negotiations in Riyadh to Russian leader Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump.
"Guarantees for Russia from Ukraine can only come as a result of an order to Zelenskyy from the US. Europe directly contradicts the position of the Trump administration, which speaks about previous settlement parameters for the conflict in Ukraine," the Russian Foreign Minister stated.
In Lavrov's opinion, the "Kyiv regime" would have long been defeated without support from European countries, with France and the UK leading in arms supplies.
Negotiation process on ending war
At the beginning of March, the US proposed a 30-day ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, which the Ukrainian side supported. However, the Kremlin did not provide a clear response, instead putting forward additional conditions, including the cessation of mobilization in Ukraine and the halt of Western arms supplies to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Meanwhile, negotiations between the US and Ukraine took place in Riyadh. On March 25, a separate round of talks between the US and Russia lasted for 12 hours.
Following these talks, the media sources revealed that additional negotiations were held with the Ukrainian side.
Today, reports indicated that the US and Russia were preparing a joint statement following the negotiations in Saudi Arabia. However, it later became known that no joint statement would be issued, while the Kremlin announced that negotiations between Russia and the US would continue, with the United Nations and other countries involved.
