US and Russian officials began talks in Saudi Arabia on Monday aimed at making progress toward a broad ceasefire in Ukraine, with Washington eyeing a Black Sea ceasefire agreement before a broader agreement is reached.
The talks, which followed US talks with Ukraine on Sunday, come as US President Donald Trump steps up his efforts to end the three-year-old conflict after speaking to both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin last week.
A source briefed on the planning of the talks said the US side will be led by Andrew Peake, a senior director of the White House National Security Council, and Michael Anton, a senior State Department official.
The White House says the talks are aimed at reaching a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea that would allow shipping to flow freely.
Russia is represented by Grigory Karasin, a former diplomat who serves as chairman of the Federation Council’s Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sergei Beseda, an adviser to the director of the Federal Security Service.
