The independent Russian outlet Meduza, citing the RIA Novosti and TASS news agencies, reported that the joint statement by Russia and the United States would be published on Tuesday.
According to the portal, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov had previously stated that expert groups from Moscow and Washington did not plan to sign any documents following the “consultations in Riyadh.”
Representing the Russian side were, among others, two diplomats under Western sanctions: Grigory Karasin, who currently heads the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federation Council (the upper house of parliament), and Sergey Beseda, an adviser to the head of the Federal Security Service (FSB). According to media reports and commentators, neither of these figures wields real influence over Kremlin decisions. (Further content follows below the video material.)
Leading the U.S. delegation were Andrew Peek, a senior representative of the National Security Council, and Michael Anton, Director of Policy Planning at the State Department.
On Sunday, the Kremlin announced that the main topic of Monday’s talks would be restoring the so-called Black Sea Initiative. The U.S. State Department indicated that the discussion would take place at the expert level, without any American officials holding ministerial rank.
Also on Sunday in Riyadh, delegations from the United States and Ukraine met. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who heads the Ukrainian team, stated in the evening that the talks were “productive and substantive.” Security issues and the protection of energy facilities and critical infrastructure were discussed.
According to earlier announcements, a second meeting between the U.S. and Ukrainian sides was to take place on Monday after the conclusion of the U.S.-Russia talks. It remains unclear when that meeting will occur.