On Monday, US and Russian delegations began talks in the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, regarding the war in Ukraine, Reuters reported. A day earlier, the Americans held discussions with the Ukrainian delegation.
Is a Ceasefire Possible?
On Sunday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the resumption of the so-called Black Sea Grain Initiative would be the main topic of Monday’s talks between the Russian and US delegations.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative was agreed upon in July 2022 through mediation by Turkey and the UN. Despite the war, this agreement allowed the export of nearly 33 million tons of Ukrainian agricultural products via the Black Sea. Russia withdrew from the initiative after a year, claiming that its own food and fertilizer exports faced significant obstacles.
The White House announced that on March 18, US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin agreed to technical negotiations regarding a ceasefire in the Black Sea, as well as a full armistice and lasting peace.