US and Russian Officials Begin Talks in Saudi Arabia to Pursue Black Sea Ceasefire

US and Russian officials commenced high-level talks in Saudi Arabia on Monday, aiming to make significant strides toward a broad ceasefire in Ukraine. The discussions are primarily focused on establishing a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea as an initial step, with the broader goal of achieving a comprehensive ceasefire agreement.

The talks follow a series of diplomatic engagements by US President Donald Trump, who has escalated his efforts to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Last week, Trump held separate conversations with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, signaling a renewed push for peace.

A source familiar with the negotiations confirmed that the US delegation is being led by Andrew Peek, Senior Director at the White House National Security Council, and Michael Anton, a senior official at the State Department. The White House has emphasized that the primary objective of the talks is to establish a ceasefire in the Black Sea to ensure the safe and uninterrupted flow of shipping, which is critical for global trade.

On the Russian side, the delegation includes Grigory Karasin, a former diplomat and current chair of the Federation Council's Foreign Affairs Committee, alongside Sergei Beseda, an adviser to the director of Russia's Federal Security Service.

The discussions come at a time when the international community is closely monitoring efforts to de-escalate the ongoing conflict, which has now entered its third year.