Riyadh - Saba:
Riyadh is hosting talks between Russian and US delegations on Monday regarding the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict.
The Russian news agency TASS reported that the meetings are being held behind closed doors at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, and Saudi security forces have asked journalists to leave the hotel.
The Russian delegation arrived in Saudi Arabia on Sunday evening. It is headed by Grigory Karasin, Chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Russian Federation Council, and Sergei Beseda, Advisor to the Director of the Federal Security Service (FSB).
Karasin previously expressed hope that the Russian and US sides would be able to make progress during the Riyadh meeting, which is expected to focus on the Black Sea Initiative.
The US delegation is expected to include Michael Anton, Director of Policy Planning at the US State Department, as well as aides to Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.
The US delegation also met with its Ukrainian counterpart in Riyadh on Sunday, and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustam Amirov described the talks as "fruitful."
Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held a phone call last Tuesday, during which they discussed ways to end the conflict in Ukraine, including a 30-day ceasefire, de-escalation conditions, and a range of other international issues.
The two leaders agreed that the conflict in Ukraine must end with lasting peace, beginning with a cessation of attacks on energy facilities and infrastructure, as well as technical negotiations to implement a naval ceasefire in the Black Sea, leading to a full ceasefire. They also emphasized the immediate commencement of Russian-US negotiations in Saudi Arabia.
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