**US and Russia Talks in Secret**
The US and Russia held secret talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on March 25 that the content of these talks will not be made public.
Peskov explained that the talks were “technical negotiations” with many details. Therefore, it’s expected that the results will not be published. He confirmed that the outcomes of the discussions have been sent to Moscow and Washington for review.
**Background on Talks**
The secret talks took place after 12 hours of US-Russia negotiations on March 24. A new round of US-Ukraine talks followed on March 25, which is part of President Donald Trump‘s efforts to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine.
The initial meeting was scheduled to take place between the US and both Ukraine and Russia on the same day. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky decided that his country’s delegation would meet with US officials a day earlier.
**Key Topics**
Peskov confirmed that the Black Sea Initiative was discussed during the talks in Riyadh. This initiative aimed to stabilize global food prices by allowing Ukraine to export agricultural products via the Black Sea. However, it collapsed in July 2023 when Russia withdrew from the deal.
Since then, Russian forces have repeatedly targeted Ukrainian port infrastructure. A recent missile strike on March 1 damaged facilities and a civilian ship in Odesa‘s port.
**US and Russia Delegations**
The US delegation was led by Andrew Peek, a senior director at the National Security Council, and Michael Anton, a senior State Department official. The Russian delegation included Grigory Karasin, chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, and Sergei Beseda, an adviser to FSB director Alexander Bortnikov.
Karasin described the talks as proceeding in a “creative way,” saying that both sides understand each other’s views.
**Concerns Over Peace Efforts**
The negotiations come amid concerns that Russia is deliberately stalling peace efforts to strengthen its position. The Kremlin claimed last week that it had ordered a 30-day halt to strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure following a phone call between Trump and Putin.
However, Kyiv accused Russia of continuing attacks on civilian targets. The US and Ukraine initially backed a broader 30-day ceasefire but Russia rejected the proposal unless it included conditions that would undermine Ukraine’s defense capabilities.