New Expert-Level Negotiations Set Between Russia and the US on Black Sea Conflict
In a significant step towards diplomacy, Russia and the United States have scheduled a new round of expert-level negotiations on March 24 in Saudi Arabia. This announcement was made by Yuri Ushakov, an international advisor to the Kremlin, on Thursday. The meetings are aimed at discussing important issues related to the conflict ongoing in the Black Sea region.
Ushakov revealed that an agreement had been reached with Mike Waltz, the US National Security Advisor, to carry out these bilateral consultations with experts designated by both presidents. The negotiations will take place in Riyadh, with high-profile participants from the Russian side, including Grigori Karasin, the head of the Senate Committee on International Affairs, and Sergei Beseda, an advisor to the director of the Federal Security Service (FSB), which was formerly known as the KGB. Ushakov described them as experienced negotiators well-versed in international issues, highlighting the importance of their roles in these dialogues.
One of the central topics of discussion will be a possible ceasefire in the Black Sea. Ushakov reminded that this initiative was part of the discussions held on Tuesday between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, who emphasized the need for expert consultations.
Significantly, this meeting will continue the momentum from the first round of negotiations that took place on February 18 in Riyadh. This earlier meeting was led by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, underscoring the ongoing engagement between the two powers.
Ushakov reiterated that the Black Sea Initiative, which was established to facilitate the safe navigation of Ukrainian grain carriers for export, had initially been agreed upon in July 2022 in collaboration with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. However, it has not been fully implemented to date, raising concerns about the region's economic and humanitarian situation.
As both sides prepare for the upcoming consultations, there remains hope for productive outcomes that could lead to a de-escalation of hostilities. Additional developments include Putin’s unilateral announcement of an energy ceasefire, effective immediately following his call with Trump. Nonetheless, Ukraine has voiced its desire for this ceasefire to extend to all civil infrastructure, with President Volodymyr Zelensky confirming that airstrikes will persist until a documented partial ceasefire lasting 30 days is established.
As the world watches, these negotiations could potentially reshape the dynamics in the Black Sea, impacting both regional security and international relations.
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