Talks about the war in Ukraine: Washington wants a ceasefire in the Black Sea

Delegations of the United States of America i Russia negotiations have begun in Saudi Arabia, where the Donald Trump administration is trying to make progress towards a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

The Americans' meeting with the Kremlin comes a day after talks between the US delegation - which includes officials from the State Department, the National Security Council and members of the team of Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg - and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who described the talks as productive.

The Black Sea Initiative is on the agenda

At the top of the agenda is "the issue of the Black Sea Initiative and all aspects related to its renewal," including "navigation safety," the Kremlin said ahead of the meeting.

Earlier in the war, the so-called Black Sea Grain Initiative enabled the safe export of Ukrainian grain through the waters of the Black Sea. In 2023, Russia withdrew from the deal, which was brokered by Turkey and the United Nations, amid accusations that the West had failed to fulfill its promises to ease sanctions on Russian exports of agricultural products and fertilizers.

Washington is hoping for a potential cease-fire in the Black Sea, which would enable the free flow of ships, and that the initial positive atmosphere in the peace talks could develop into a broader thirty-day cessation of hostilities and long-term negotiations.

If the agreement is renewed, Russia would export agricultural products and fertilizers via the Black Sea, with sanctions imposed on it by Western countries being eased.

Suspension of attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure

The Kremlin announced that cessation of attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, agreed upon during a telephone conversation between Putin and Trump last Tuesday, remains in effect for the time being. However, there is still no ceasefire, and on Sunday at least seven people were killed in a series of drone attacks across Ukraine, according to local officials and emergency services.

The Russian military claims it intercepted 28 Ukrainian drones overnight, while Ukraine says its forces destroyed four Russian military helicopters.

The day before, the US talked to Ukraine. This conversation was of a technical nature, focused on infrastructure and navigation safety, but was evaluated positively. The Ukrainian delegation remains in Saudi Arabia for further talks with the US, said Serhii Leshchenko, adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.

"For now, we are waiting for the outcome of the meeting between the United States and Russia. Based on that, we will hold another meeting with the United States," the official said.

Sources: The Guardian/CNN/Reuters