Discussions between Ukrainian and American negotiators began in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday over a potential ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow.
This was reported from a source within the Ukrainian delegation and as reported by the French news agency AFP.
On Monday, representatives from the US and Russia also held a day-long meeting. The goal of the talks is to attempt to end the conflict in Ukraine, which has endured for over three years due to the full-scale Russian offensive since February 2022.
Kyiv has accepted a proposal from former President Trump for a thirty-day ceasefire, while Moscow has set conditions.
Thus, the talks in Riyadh are likely to focus on smaller steps, such as halting attacks on energy infrastructure and securing an agreement for safe passage of cargo ships in the Black Sea.
'Useful dialogue'
Russia has described Tuesday’s discussions in Riyadh about the war in Ukraine as "a useful dialogue" with Washington.
US and Russian representatives met for over 12 hours on Monday to discuss the first steps towards ending the conflict.
"We talked about everything; it was an intense dialogue, not easy, but very useful for us and the Americans," said Russian negotiator Grigory Karasin to the state agency Tass. He assured that the talks would continue.
Karasin, who was accompanied by a senior official from the Russian intelligence agency FSB, mentioned that "many issues" were discussed. However, he noted that the parties are still far from “reaching an agreement on all points.”
He expressed the desire to involve the international community, particularly "the United Nations and certain countries."
Karasin did not reveal any details about potential results from the discussions. A joint statement from Moscow and Washington about Monday’s talks is expected later in the day.
