White House says progress made in negotiations with Russia in Riyadh - Media

The one-day negotiations between US and Russian representatives in Riyadh concluded on Monday evening (Kyiv time). They focused on a narrow proposal for a ceasefire at sea between Ukrainian and Russian forces in the Black Sea.

This is part of the diplomatic efforts by the White House, which, according to official Washington, hopes to pave the way for broader peace talks and, eventually, an end to the Russian-Ukrainian war.

A source in the White House stated that progress had been made during the talks in the Saudi capital, and a "positive announcement" is expected "soon."

According to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, the Moscow delegation responded to questions about the mood after the negotiations with "it`s good."

A Russian source told Reuters that the talks ended late on Monday, and the draft joint statement had been sent to Moscow and Washington for approval, with both sides intending to release it on Tuesday.

Earlier, Russian media reported that Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said that no documents would be signed.

US President Donald Trump, on March 24, listed other issues that he said were on the table. According to him, "we are now talking about territory, we are talking about border lines, talking about control, ownership of power plants."

Ceasefire negotiations between Russia and Ukraine

Last week, Russia rejected Trump's proposal for a full 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine and seemingly agreed only to a "moratorium" on attacks on energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, air attacks by the Russian military on Ukrainian cities continue and have even intensified.

For example, on the day of the negotiations in Riyadh, Russian missiles struck the city of Sumy. Several high-rise buildings, a school, and a hospital were damaged in the attack, and the latest reports indicate that over 90 people were injured, many of whom were children.

The White House claims that the initial goal of the negotiations in Saudi Arabia is to ensure a "maritime ceasefire" in the Black Sea, which would allow for the free movement of vessels.

It is worth noting that the Ukrainian Defense Forces, particularly with the help of surface drones, have forced Russian occupiers to move their fleet further away from open waters, nearly "locking" it near marine bases. This has allowed Ukraine to reopen ports and resume exports.

According to the Kremlin spokesperson, the current talks were "primarily about maritime security" and the previous UN-backed agreement on Black Sea shipping did not meet some of Russia's requirements.

A Reuters source familiar with the planning of the negotiations in Saudi Arabia reported that the US side at the meeting was led by Senior Director of the National Security Council Andrew Peek and senior US State Department official Michael Anton.

Russia was represented by the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Council, Grigory Karasin. Speaking to the pro-government agency "Interfax," he stated that the talks were progressing "creatively" and that both sides discussed issues considered "irritating" in bilateral relations.

White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz told CBS on Sunday that delegations from the US, Russia, and Ukraine had gathered in the same room in Riyadh. He added that in addition to the ceasefire in the Black Sea, the teams would discuss a "line of control" between the two armies, which he referred to as "measures of verification, maintaining peace, freezing the lines where they are."

Earlier, media reports indicated that the March 24 negotiations in Riyadh between the US and Russian delegations lasted over 12 hours.

Also, it was reported that on March 23, negotiations between US and Ukrainian delegations took place in Riyadh. On the evening of March 24, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope that such negotiations between Kyiv and Washington would contribute to progress toward real peace with Russia.

Additionally, on March 24, the US State Department commented on the negotiations, expressing the opinion that Ukraine and Russia are closer to a complete ceasefire than ever before.