Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that Ukrainian and U.S. officials will sit down in Saudi Arabia next Monday to discuss the potential for halting attacks on energy infrastructure by both Ukrainian and Russian militaries. The development follows the Kremlin’s announcement that Russian officials will also be conducting talks with the United States in Saudi Arabia on the same day.
These talks are a continuation of diplomacy to bring an end to the present war, which is in its fourth year now. These negotiations are part of a broader process launched under United States President Donald Trump, with the aim of the swift conclusion of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
At a news conference in Norway, Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine’s technical teams would be present when meeting their American counterparts. He further stated that Russian and American officials would hold parallel separate talks to attempt to agree on the terms of a ceasefire that would entail a stoppage of attacks on energy infrastructure.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aide, Yuri Ushshakov, stated that Moscow would be represented by Grigory Karasin, head of the Senate foreign affairs committee, and Sergei Beseda, advisor to the chief of the FSB security service. Ushakov confirmed the arrangement after meeting with U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who also consented to sending “expert groups” for the talks.
The delegations will probably address “initiatives” discussed previously by Trump and Putin concerning the Black Sea region. Remarkably, Sergei Beseda has been under Western sanctions since 2014, following his acknowledgment by the Russian FSB of his presence in Kyiv while pro-EU protesters were violently suppressed. Grigory Karasin, a seasoned diplomat, will presumably represent Russian interests at the negotiations.
