First Information About The Riyadh Meetings Between US, Russia And US, Ukraine

Ukrainian officials met with the US side twice. The Russian delegation met with the US side once.

​The White House released two statements on the result of the negotiations in Riyadh on Monday, March 24, 2025. Both White House statements highlight the Black Sea as the main topic.

There was a significant difference in the delegations for these “technical level” discussions.

The US delegation was led by Andrew Peek, a senior director at the White House National Security Council, and Michael Anton, a senior State Department official. The Russian delegation was led by Sergey Beseda, who is an adviser to FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov. Grigory Karasin, a career diplomat and former deputy foreign minister, participated with Beseda.

The Ukrainian delegation differed significantly It was headed by Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s Defense Minister. Pavlo Palisa, a top military adviser to Mr. Zelensky was present as well as a number of military officers.

The Ukrainians met with the US side on Sunday, March 23rd, and a second time after the conclusion of the US-Russia meeting.

From what we know, the US-Russia meeting stretched over a 12 hour period. The second Ukrainian meeting with the US has been described as quite brief.

There are some unconfirmed reports that the Ukrainian delegation hoped to sell the US on stationing NATO or European troops in Western Ukraine, including a no fly zone. However, the agenda for the talks, at least with Russia, was focused on the 30 day ceasefire on energy facilities and on the status of the Black Sea (with discussion of reviving the cancelled 2022 Turkey-brokered Grain Deal).

The Russians say that Ukraine has not implemented the 30 day ceasefire on energy facilities and has attacked energy facilities in Russia.

Russia’s TASS news agency is reporting that Russia and the US have agreed on safe navigation on the Black Sea “and the prohibition of using commercial vessels for military purposes.” The US has promised Russia that it “will help restore Russia’s access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.”

One of the issues clearly on the agenda of the Russians was how to verify implementation of ceasefire agreements and how to “prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.” It is not known if there was any agreement on the topic of verifications or inspection of cargoes. Military supplies are being shipped into Ukraine by land (from Poland and Romania) and by sea, using Odessa port for offloading.

The statements from the White House follow:

Outcomes of the United States and Russia Expert Groups

On the Black Sea
in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
March 23-25, 2025

In line with presidential-level discussions between President Donald J. Trump and President Vladimir Putin, the United States facilitated bilateral technical-level talks with the Russian delegation March 23-25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Following those discussions:

• The United States and Russia have agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.
• The United States will help restore Russia’s access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.
• The United States and Russia agreed to develop measures for implementing President Trump’s and President Putin’s agreement to ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine.
• The United States and Russia welcome the good offices of third countries with a view toward supporting the implementation of the energy and maritime agreements.
• The United States and Russia will continue working toward achieving a durable and lasting peace.
• The United States reiterated President Donald J. Trump’s imperative that the killing on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine conflict must stop, as the necessary step toward achieving an enduring peace settlement. To that end, the United States will continue facilitating negotiations between both sides to achieve a peaceful resolution, in line with the agreements made in Riyadh.The United States expresses gratitude to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his leadership and hospitality in once again facilitating these important discussions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.​————————————

  Outcomes of the United States and Ukraine Expert Groups
  On the Black Sea
  in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  March 23-25, 2025

  In line with presidential-level discussions between President Donald J. Trump and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the United States facilitated bilateral technical-level talks with the Ukrainian delegation March 23-25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Following those discussions:

• The United States and Ukraine have agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.
• The United States and Ukraine agreed that the United States remains committed to helping achieve the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children.
• The United States and Ukraine agreed to develop measures for implementing President Trump’s and President Zelenskyy’s agreement to ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine.
• The United States and Ukraine welcome the good offices of third countries with a view toward supporting the implementation of the energy and maritime agreements.
• The United States and Ukraine will continue working toward achieving a durable and lasting peace.

The United States reiterated to both sides President Donald J. Trump’s imperative that the killing on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine conflict must stop, as the necessary step toward achieving an enduring peace settlement. To that end, the United States will continue facilitating negotiations between both sides to achieve a peaceful resolution, in line with the agreements made in Riyadh.

The United States expresses gratitude to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his leadership and hospitality in once again facilitating these important discussions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Source: author’s blog