Russian Foreign Ministry Publishes Video of Russian Negotiation Team in Riyadh
The Russian Foreign Ministry released a short video on Monday showing the Russian delegation leaving the talks. The ministry stated, “The Russian-American consultations are over.”
A source from the White House told Reuters that after the progress in the talks in Riyadh, “a positive announcement can be expected in the near future.”
The talks primarily focused on maritime security in the Black Sea and the prospects for reviving the Black Sea Grain Initiative, also known as the “Grain Deal” which was originally mediated by the UN and Turkey. Russia withdrew from the agreement in July 2023, citing the West’s failure to fulfill its part of the deal.
At the beginning of the day, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitri Peskov said, “If you remember the original version of the agreement, significant commitments were made to our side, which were never fulfilled. This remains part of the agenda.”
US President Donald Trump brought up the idea of reviving the agreement as part of his efforts to achieve a comprehensive ceasefire between Moscow and Kiev, Peskov said.
Grigori Karasin, a seasoned diplomat and chairman of the parliamentary committee on international affairs, who is part of the Russian delegation, described the talks in Riyadh as “creative” but also “technical.” “Not every negotiation leads to a much-noticed document or an agreement” Karasin said in a break in the talks to reporters. He explained, “What matters is the maintenance of communication and understanding of the other’s positions. In this respect, we have been successful.”
The news portal Al Jazeera reported on Monday about the statements of US President Donald Trump regarding the talks in Riyadh. According to Trump, he is expecting the soon-to-be-concluded agreement between the US and Ukraine on the division of the profits from important Ukrainian minerals. The US government is simultaneously discussing with Kiev the possibility of US companies taking control of Ukrainian power plants.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitri Peskov confirmed on Monday that US and Russian officials discussed the possible revival of the Black Sea Grain Initiative in 2022. This agreement was meant to enable Ukraine to export millions of tons of grain and other food products from its ports. Moscow had withdrawn from the agreement mediated by Turkey and the UN in 2023. Russia’s government accused the West of not fulfilling its commitments to relax sanctions on Russian agricultural exports and fertilizers.
There were no high expectations for the negotiation results in Riyadh. Al-Jazeera correspondent Dorsa Jabbari referred to the spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Sacharova, saying, “Even the spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Sacharova, said that there are no expectations for a breakthrough in Riyadh on Monday.”
Jabari reported that the meeting focused on outlining the details of the Russian side. She said, “What is expected is that they will work out the details of the Russian demands. As far as we know, the Russian delegation has spent at least the last eight hours discussing the details of a 30-day ceasefire agreement in the fields of energy and infrastructure, as well as the Black Sea Initiative with the US representatives.”
A joint statement on the talks is expected to be published on Tuesday, reported RIA Novosti and TASS, citing sources.