Expert сonsultations between Russia and US begin in Saudi Arabia - UPDATED

Expert consultations between Russia and the US have started in Riyadh. Representing Moscow are Grigory Karasin, head of the Federation Council's Committee on International Affairs, and Sergey Besseda, advisor to the Director of the FSB.

According to Report, which cites Russian media, the discussions are expected to focus on, among other issues, the prospects for the possible revival of the so-called Black Sea Initiative, or "grain deal," which operated from July 2022 to July 2023.

Earlier in Riyadh, the US held talks with Ukrainian representatives. US Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg previously stated that Washington intends to conduct indirect negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in the Saudi capital on resolving the conflict.

“We are bringing in so-called technical groups for these so-called indirect negotiations in Saudi Arabia, where both sides will come and be received in separate rooms,” he said in an interview with The Glenn Beck Program.

10:18

Russian and US delegations are set to begin negotiations on resolving the Ukrainian conflict in Riyadh at 11:00 Baku time, Report informs via TASS.

The Russian delegation at the talks will be led by Grigory Karasin, Chairman of the Federation Council's Committee on International Affairs, and Sergey Beseda, Advisor to the Director of the Federal Security Service.

The US delegation is expected to include Michael Anton, Director of Policy Planning at the US State Department, as well as assistants to the Special Envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.