Riyadh set to host US-Russia talks on Ukraine war

KABUL (Pajhwok): Russia and US officials are set to meet today (Monday) in Saudi Arabia on ways of ending the Ukraine conflict, media reports say.

A day earlier, the Saudi capital hosted consultations between US and Ukrainian delegations, the TASS news agency reported.

The Russian delegation at the consultations will be represented by of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs Chairman Grigory Karasin and Advisor to Director of the Federal Security Service (FSB) Sergey Beseda will represent Russia.

Michael Anton, policy planning director at the State Department, and advisers to Keith Kellogg, the US special envoy to Ukraine, and US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz are expected to represent the US.

The meeting comes a week after the March 18 call between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, who focused on the situation in Ukraine and the need for preventing further escalation.

In an effort to bring about an immediate partial ceasefire to the war in Ukraine, Trump administration officials have already held talks with Ukrainian authorities.

Ahead of the meeting, the BBC quoted Trump’s personal envoy Steve Witkoff as saying: “I feel that he (Putin) wants peace. I think that you’re going to see in Saudi Arabia on Monday some real progress.”

PAN Monitor/mud