US wants to hold indirect Russia-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia
President Trump's special envoy said the US wants to hold indirect talks between Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia.
According to RIA Novosti, US Presidential Special Envoy Keith Kellogg said in an interview with American journalist Glenn Beck that the US intends to hold "indirect negotiations" in Saudi Arabia between representatives of Russia and Ukraine to understand each side's conditions for a complete ceasefire.
“We put what we call a technical team in indirect negotiations in Saudi Arabia, where both sides are involved, they’re hosted in separate rooms,” Kellogg explained. “And we’ll basically say, ‘Okay, what are your terms?’ and then turn to the other side and ask, ‘What are your terms?’”
According to special envoy Kellogg, this "shuttle diplomacy" is aimed at achieving a comprehensive ceasefire, which he said would be the first step towards ending the conflict in Ukraine.
On March 18, the Russian and US presidents had a phone conversation that lasted about 2 hours. The sides responded positively to the idea of the parties in the conflict jointly refraining from attacks on energy infrastructure for 30 days and giving corresponding instructions to the military.
In addition, President Putin and President Trump agreed to immediately start technical negotiations on establishing a “ceasefire in the Black Sea, a complete ceasefire and lasting peace.”
According to the statement of the Russian leader's assistant Yuri Ushakov, the Russian-American talks will take place on March 24 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. On the Russian side, there will be the participation of Chairman of the Federation Council's International Affairs Committee Grigory Karasin and Advisor to the Director of the Federal Security Service Sergei Beseda.
