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RIYADH, 23 March 2025 – Negotiations between the delegations of Ukraine and the United States started in Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov announced this on Twitter, noting that the meeting is taking place in the capital Riyadh.
“We have started a meeting with the American team in Riyadh,” Umerov wrote. He stressed that the Ukrainian delegation is fulfilling the order of the President of Ukraine aimed at “bringing a just peace and strengthening security”. According to the minister, the key topics of the talks are proposals to protect Ukraine’s energy facilities and critical infrastructure.
Umerov said that on 23 March, the parties would focus on working out complex technical issues. The Ukrainian delegation includes energy experts, as well as representatives of the Ukrainian Navy and Air Force. This was reported by Deutsche Welle (DW).
Walz spoke about the stages of the negotiations
National Security Adviser to the US President Michael Walz, in his comments on the talks, noted that the first steps towards stabilising the situation had already been taken. According to him, the “ceasefire on air infrastructure” was introduced immediately after US President Donald Trump’s telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week.
“Now we’re going to talk about a ceasefire at sea in the Black Sea so that both sides can move grain, fuel and start trading again in the Black Sea,” Walz added. He stressed that unblocking the sea routes is an important step for both sides.
The next stage, according to the adviser, will be to discuss the “line of control” along the “actual front line”. The talks are expected to address mechanisms for verification, peacekeeping and freezing of offensive lines. “And then, of course, we’ll move on to a broader and more permanent peace,” Walz concluded, outlining the strategic goals of the US side.
The talks in Riyadh marked another milestone in international efforts to resolve the conflict and ensure stability in the region. Details of the agreements are expected to be made public after the meeting.
